Vinci reaches next round

Published February 1, 2017
TIMEA Babos of Hungary returns the ball to Italy’s Roberta Vinci during their match at the St Petersburg Ladies’ Trophy on Tuesday.—AP
TIMEA Babos of Hungary returns the ball to Italy’s Roberta Vinci during their match at the St Petersburg Ladies’ Trophy on Tuesday.—AP

ST PETERSBURG: Rob­erta Vinci started the defence of her St Petersburg Ladies’ Trophy title with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Timea Babos on Tuesday.

The sixth-seeded Italian was broken five times but still advanced to face either German veteran Andrea Petkovic or Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania in the second round.

Also Tuesday, Kristina Mladenovic of France beat Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens 7-6 (5), 6-4 and will next face Australian Open finalist Venus Williams.

Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan also advanced, leading 6-1, 1-0 when Swedish opponent Johanna Larsson retired from the match. Putintseva will next face Annika Beck of Germany.

Results (x denotes seeding):

First round: Ana Konjuh (CRO) bt Monica Niculescu (ROM) 1-6, 6-3, 6-2; Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) bt Elise Mertens (BEL) 7-6, (7/5), 6-4; Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Irina-Camelia Begu (ROM) 6-1, 7-5; Roberta Vinci (ITA x6) bt Timea Babos (HUN) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) bt Johanna Larsson (SWE) 6-0, 1-0 retired Alize Cornet (FRA) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-4, 6-2.

Published in Dawn February 1st, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.