World number 30 Anett Kontaveit beat Sorana Cristea 6-4 6-4 in 1 hour and a half at the J&T Banka Ostrava Open improving to 5-0 in their head-to-head matches. Kontaveit beat Cristea twice this year in Dubai and Miami.
The Estonian player converted six of her eight eight break points. She earned her first break in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Cristea converted her third break point with a forehand winner to draw level to 4-4. Kontaveit broke serve at love to take a 5-4 lead and served out the set 6-4 in the 10th game.
Kontaveit cruised through to a 5-2 lead. Cristea pulled one break back and led 0-40 on Kontaveit’s serve at 5-4. Kontaveit won a streak of consecutive points to force the 10th game to deuce. Kontaveit won the next two points with forehand winners to claim the win.
Russian qualifier Anastasia Potapova overcame Caroline Garcia 6-2 7-6 (8-6) after 1 hour and 46 minutes. Potapova fended off all three of the break points she faced. They have 1-1 level in their previous head-to-head matches. Garcia had won their previous head-to-head match in Tianjin in 2019.
Potapova set up a second round match against two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
Paula Badosa beat Russian lucky-loser Varvara Gracheva 6-2 6-2 in just 1 hour and 13 minutes. Badosa won 77% of her first service points and never faced a break point.
Badova took a re-match against Gracheva, who won their previous head-to-head match in the second round at the US Open.
