Seoul – The Korea Open continued its exciting first‑round action on Tuesday, with several top‑seeded players securing spots in the second round. No. 1 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia defeated Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova 6‑4, 6‑1, and No. 2 Kimberly Birrell of Australia edged Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek 7‑6 (2), 6‑4.
Romania’s No. 4 seed Elena‑Gabriela Ruse dispatched Germany’s Eva Lys 6‑1, 6‑2, while Hungary’s No. 6 seed Anna Bondar rallied from a set down to beat Mexico’s Renata Zarazua 2‑6, 6‑3, 6‑1.
South Korean Wildcards Break a 42‑Year Barrier
In a historic moment for the host nation, wild‑card entrants Yeon Woo Ku, Sohyun Park and Back Dayeon all advanced to the second round, becoming the first trio of South Koreans to do so at the same WTA tournament since 1984 in Rio de Janeiro.
Singapore Tennis Open Highlights
Across the region, the Singapore Tennis Open saw No. 8 seed Donna Vekic of Croatia upset by China’s Xinyu Wang 6‑1, 6‑2. No. 2 seed Amanda Anisimova withdrew with a left‑wrist injury, allowing lucky‑loser Viktoria Morvayova of Slovakia to take her place against Talia Gibson of Australia.
Other notable first‑round results included No. 7 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece defeating Czech Linda Fruhvirtova 6‑4, 6‑1, and American Alycia Parks beating lucky‑loser Mei Yamaguchi of Japan 6‑4, 6‑3. Russian Tatiana Prozorova rallied past Belgium’s Sofia Costoulas 5‑7, 7‑6 (6), 6‑2, while Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine overcame Vivian Wolff 6‑1, 7‑6 (5).
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
