CHARLESTON (South Carolina): The top two seeded players, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Paula Badosa of Spain, earned second-round wins in the rain-delayed Credit One Charleston Open on Wednesday.

Sabalenka, the top seed, defeated American Alison Riske, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 in the season’s first clay-court event for her first victory since late February. Second seed Badosa advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Hungary’s Anna Bondar in the round of 32.

Third-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic also advanced to the third round. She topped Katarina Zavatska of Ukraine 5-7, 7-5, 6-4.

Fifth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan wasn’t so fortunate, falling to Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

The weather continued to be a problem as the match between fourth-seeded Ons Jabeur and American Emma Navarro was suspended with Jabeur, of Tunisia, leading 6-3, 5-2 before lightning and heavy rain hit the facility.

Sixth seed Jessica Pegula booked a place in the round-of-16 with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Jasmine Paolini.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2022