TOKYO: Former champion Agnieszka Radwanska made short work of American Coco Vandeweghe at the Pan Pacific Open on Monday, reaching the second round with a 6-3, 6-3 win.

The Pole may not be quite the force she was when she won the Tokyo title in 2011 and reached number two in the world the following year.

But seventh seed Radwanska, chasing a 15th career title and first of the year, can still whack the fur off a tennis ball and had Vandeweghe scampering around court before winning in an hour and 26 minutes.

Title holder Ana Ivanovic and top seed Caroline Wozniacki have first-round byes at the $1 million hardcourt event, being played at the waterside tennis venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

In other matches, Czech Barbora Strycova beat Naomi Osaka 7-5, 6-2 while Italy’s Camila Giorgi came through 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 against Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.

Ukrainians proved ungracious guests, meanwhile, Katernya Bondarenko ousting Japan’s Nao Hibino 6-3, 6-4 while Olga Savchuk knocked out another Japanese Misa Eguchi, 6-3, 6-4.

Results (x denotes seeding):

First round: Barbora Strycova (CZE) bt Naomi Osaka (JPN) 7-5, 6-2; Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x7) bt Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 6-3, 6-3; Camila Giorgi (ITA) bt Caroline Garcia (FRA) 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3; Katernya Bondarenko (UKR) bt Nao Hibino (JPN) 6-3, 6-4; Ana Konjuh (CRO) bt Risa Ozaki (JPN) 6-4, 6-0; Xu Yifan (CHN) bt Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4); Olga Savchuk (UKR) bt Misa Eguchi (JPN) 6-3, 6-4.

Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki signs on tournament’s posters.—AFP

SCHMIEDLOVA IN SECOND ROUND

SEOUL: Slovakian second seed Anna Schmiedlova came from a set down to push aside Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the first round of the WTA Korea Open on Monday.

Schmiedlova, ranked 31st in the world, struggled early in her match but rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

German players shone in the first round, with Julia Goerges toppling Lara Arruabarrena of Spain 6-1, 6-4, and fifth seed Mona Barthel defeating Jang Su-Jeong, a South Korean wild card, 6-0, 7-6 (7/2).

Eighth seed Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium, who had reached her best singles ranking of world number 46 in June, needed three sets against Andreea Mitu of Romania to advance to the second round 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/2).

Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova, ranked 73rd in the world, handed out a 6-1 first set hammering to Klara Koukalova and was up 2-1 in the second when the Czech player abandoned the match.

Polona Hercog of Slovenia booked her place in the second round with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3 win over Lauren Davis of the United States, while Mariana Duque of Colombia defeated Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

Results:

First round: Polona Hercog (SLO) bt Lauren Davis (USA) 6-1, 6-3; Julia Goerges (GER x7) bt Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) 6-1, 6-4; Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL x8) bt Andreea Mitu (ROM) 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/2); Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) bt Klara Koukalova (CZE) 6-1, 2-1 abandon; Mona Barthel (GER x5) bt Jang Su-Jeong (KOR) 6-0, 7-6 (7/2); Mariana Duque-Marino (COL) bt Kiki Bertens (NED) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2; Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK x2) bt Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play