Internazionali BNL d'Italia: Coco Gauff gets milestone win; Siniakova stuns Kerber

Katerina Siniakova started off Tuesday’s play at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia with an upset over the 15th seed Angelique Kerber. The Czech defeated the German in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 in just 69 minutes. Kerber never looked comfortable in the match and at no point in the match was she on level terms with her opponent, both tactically and in terms of the score.

Siniakova will play a Russian in the second round in either Daria Kasatkina or Vera Zvonareva.

Siniakova’s countrywoman, 12th seed Marketa Vondrousova also advanced into the round-of-32 in the Italian capital. Vondrousova needed three sets to beat Japan’s Misaki Doi 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 33 minutes. Vondrousova will play Dutch qualifier Arantxa Rus in the second round. Rus beat Poland’s Iga Swiatek 7-6(5), 6-3 in two hours and 12 minutes.

Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu defeated Italy’s wildcard recipient Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets in their opening-round clash. Begu needed an hour and 24 minutes to win 6-2, 6-2. Begu will play seventh-seed Briton Johanna Konta in the next round.

Polona Hercog got the better of her compatriot, qualifier Kaja Juvan in their Slovenian derby. Hercog needed three sets and two hours and 20 minutes to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Hercog will play fifth-seeded Belgian Kiki Bertens in the round-of-32.

Yulia Putintseva won against Swede Rebecca Peterson in their round-of-64 clash. The Kazakh claimed the win in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 43 minutes. Putintseva will play eighth seed Petra Martic in the second round.

Fourteenth seed Anett Kontaveit beat Caroline Garcia in their opener to take her place in the second round. The Estonian won in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(1) in an hour and 38 minutes. While she cruised along in the opening set and even served for the match twice in the second set – in regulation time – at 5-4 and 6-5, she was thwarted by the Frenchwoman. The eventual tie-break, however, was quite one-sided and despite her best efforts, Garcia could not make a comeback on the occasion.

Internazionali BNL d'Italia: Coco Gauff gets through to the second round

Coco Gauff defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 31 minutes in their first-round match. It was the teenager’s first main draw win on clay on the WTA main tour. Gauff went down a break in the opening game of the first set against her Tunisian opponent who was playing in the main draw of the tournament for the first time in her career. As the set progressed, Gauff broke down Jabeur’s inconsistencies to take the opening set. The second set did not have any extensive momentum shifts and Gauff held her own long enough to reach the next round.

In the round-of-32 at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, Gauff will play either Garbine Muguruza or Sloane Stephens.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/35DolFi