Elina Svitolina has opened up her campaign at the Taipei Open with a clinical 6-0, 6-3, win over Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina in the first round.
The Ukrainian top seed faced little resistance throughout the 59-minute encounter as she converted 4/6 break points and hit 23 winners. After Svitolina clinched the first set bagel, Roidina received a medical time out to treat an undisclosed illness. The Russian was able to produce a more competitive second set, but it was no match to the form displayed from the top seed.
.@ElinaSvitolina is putting on an exhibition in the @WTA_Taiwan_Open! pic.twitter.com/c2kBHcG2uT
— WTA (@WTA) 31 January 2017
Svitolina will play Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka in the second round. Two-time doubles grand slam champion Hradecka overcame Kateryna Kozlova 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-1, in her first round match.
Samantha Stosur also guided her way to the last sixteen in the tournament. Stosur, who recently suffered another disappointing early exit at the Australian Open, endured some tough resistance in her 6-2, 6-4, win over Danka Kovinic.
The Australian second seed was broken twice (once in each set) as she only managed to win 43% of her second service points (9/21). Nevertheless, the experience of the 32-year-old proved pivotal as she broke five times on route to the victory.
Jelena Jankovic became the first seeded player to exit this year’s tournament after crashing out 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4, to Kurumi Nara. The Serbian eighth seed was troubled by physical problems during her epic encounter, which lasted two-hours-and-45-minutes. Jankovic experience issues with both her knee and back during the match.
“I have done my best, but the back injury is getting worse and worse, I couldn’t win it, I’m disappointed!” Said Jankovic according to ETToday.
Nara will next play China’s Zhu Lin in the second round, who defeated Poland’s Magda Linette 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
