Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the second round of the Istanbul Cup on Tuesday after rallying from a set down to oust Italy’s Karin Knapp, while the WTA announced that next year’s Taiwan Open is to be moved from Kaohsiung to Taipei.
Kaohsiung-born world No. 81 Hsieh defeated world No. 72 Knapp 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-1 at the Garanti Koza Arena in 2 hours, 23 minutes.
The Taiwanese No. 1 saved 10 of 13 break points and converted seven of 10, winning 109 of the 207 points contested to set up a second-round clash against world No. 127 Maria Sakkari of Greece, who stunned top seed Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-3.
Third seed Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine also fell at the first hurdle in a 6-3, 6-4 loss to Romanian qualifier Sorana Cirstea, while eighth seed Johanna Larsson of Sweden survived a second-set wobble to down Ukrainian qualifier Maryna Zanevska 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (7/5). Ukrainian seventh seed Kateryna Bondarenko had to rally from a set down to oust Olga Govortsova of Belarus 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Also advancing were Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria, Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia, Hungarian qualifier Reka-Luca Jani, Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey and Slovakian qualifier Kristina Kucova.
Meanwhile, the WTA announced on Tuesday that next year’s Taiwan Open is to be staged at the Taipei Arena on Jan. 30.
Venus Williams won the singles title at the inaugural event staged at the Yang-Ming Tennis Center in Kaohsiung during the Lunar New Year holiday this year, while Taiwanese sisters Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan claimed the doubles title.
“On behalf of the Taipei City Government, I am pleased to announce that Taiwan Open will be held in Taipei next year,” Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je told the WTA Web site. “We are committed to bringing the best events to our global city and the decision to move the event to Taipei demonstrates the city’s ability to attract the best international sport events. We look forward to working with the WTA and the tournament organizers to make this an event all of Taiwan can be proud of.”
The organizers said the move to Taipei would result in increased sponsorship and government investment, hopefully making the tournament accessible to a much larger fan base.
PORSCHE GRAND PRIX
AP, STUTTGART, Germany
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova swept past qualifier Luisa Chirico 6-0, 6-0 to reach the second round of the WTA Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Kvitova needed only 55 minutes to dismiss the American, winning 17 of 19 first-serve points. The Czech also faced only one break point.
Ana Ivanovic of Serbia rallied to beat German qualifier Carina Witthoeft 7-6 (7/3), 6-0. Ivanovic was down a break and the German served for the first set, but could not hold and her game collapsed.
Two other Germans advanced to the second round of the indoor clay tournament with straight-set wins.
Annika Beck beat “lucky loser” Camila Giorgi 6-4, 6-2 and qualifier Laura Siegemund defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-0, 7-5, coming back from a break down in the second set.
Giorgi had replaced Italian countrywoman Sara Errani, who pulled out with a right-leg injury.
Seventh-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain defeated Oceane Dodin of France 6-3, 6-0.
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