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Top seed Lin Zhu won her first-round match at the Japan Open on Tuesday. The Chinese who took on fellow countrywoman Xiyu Wang needed an hour and 42 minutes to post a 6-4, 6-4 win. Wang wasn’t far behind Zhu when it came to winning first-serve points.
She won 72% of her first-serve points to the latter’s 77%. However, she wasn’t able to score freely on her second serve. Of the 25 second-serve points Wang put in, Zhu won 14%. The world no. 83 also won 13 of 21 points played on her second serve.
Zhu also saved the three break points she faced in the match while converting two of four break points on Wang’s serve. This week, Zhu’s coming fresh off a new milestone at the US Open. She reached the third round for the first time at the Major, surpassing her previous best of reaching the second round in 2019.
In the second round in Osaka, the 28-year-old will take on local wildcard, Moyuka Uchijima. The 174th-ranked Uchijima defeated Indian qualifier Ankita Raina in the first round. The match lasted 80 minutes with the 22-year-old coming through 6-4, 6-2.
Japan Open: Tatjana Maria fumbles out
The tournament also lost its second seed on the second day of play. German Tatjana Maria, who was seeded second, lost a topsy-turvy tussle to Panna Udvardy. The Hungarian needed three hours and four minutes to close the match that also saw her come from a set down and a break down in the deciding set.
The eventual score read, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5). Udvardy will play qualifier Arianne Hartono. The Dutchwoman defeated Japanese wildcard, Misaki Doi 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 after two hours and 20 minutes. Another Japanese player, seventh seed Nao Hibino also lost in the first round.
Rebecca Marino defeated Hibino 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 19 minutes. Next up for the Canadian is Elizabeth Mandlik. The American qualifier defeated Diane Parry 7-5, 6-2. Lastly, Japanese qualifier Himeno Sakatsume won an all-qualifiers’ clash against Alexandra Eala to reach the second round of the Japan Open.
After an hour and 14 minutes of play, Sakatsume won 6-0, 6-3.
