Google News WTA Nanjing: Ajla Tomljanovic, Anna Schmiedlova enjoy winning start; Caroline Garcia exits
by VISHAL GAJARIA
The main round of the WTA Nanjing Ladies Open, a WTA 125K event, got underway in Nanjing, China, on Monday. 7th seed Ajla Tomljanovic advanced to the second round of the tournament, after beating Olga Puchkova 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round.
The 79th-ranked Croat needed an hour and 29 minutes to record her second consecutive victory over her Russian counterpart. Slovakian Anna Schmiedlova, seeded eighth, made light work of Japanese Risa Ozaki 7-5, 6-4 to cruise into the round of 16.
Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania also advanced to the second round, after posting a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Russian Daria Gavrilova in the opening-round encounter. Alla Kudryavtseva destroyed qualifier Tereza Mrdeza 6-4, 6-0, while Anna-Lena Friedsam overcame Katarzyna Piter 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) to breeze into the second round of the tournament.
Meanhile, Saisai Zheng crafted bliss for the home crowd, as she recorded a stunning victory over fifth seed Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-4 to move on to the second round, where she has been slated to play against Alla Kudryavtseva.