JAPAN’S Sakura Hosogi ended Mildura Grand Tennis International women’s No.4 seed Zuzana Zlochova’s title hopes, winning in straight sets after a delayed start on Thursday.
In an impressive display, Hosogi struggled through the first set, winning 7-5, before stepping things up in the second to comfortably take it 6-2 and advance to the second round.
Zlochova was not the only women’s seed to bow out yesterday with No.7 seed, American Jennifer Elie, beaten by Australian qualifier Katherine Westbury 7-5, 6-3.
But No.1 seed Arina Rodionova had no such problems, easily accounting for qualifier Roopa Bains 6-2, 6-1.
Rodionova took just 58 minutes to dispose of her young Australian opponent to advance to the next round.
It was a good day for the Aussies, with Sara Tomic also getting through in straight sets, defeating Amber Marshall 7-5, 6-4, and Abbie Myers having a comfortable win over Zara Brankovic 6-0, 6-3.
On the men’s side of the draw there were a number of upsets.
France’s Vincent Stouff continued to impress with a straight-sets win over Jai Corbett.
Stouff, who had to come through qualifying, won the opening set 6-0 before closing out the second 6-2.
Another qualifier, Scott Puodziunas, also made it through to the second round, defeating James Ibrahim 6-3, 6-4.
Calum Puttergill was another main-draw player to fall, defeated in a tight three-set battle by qualifier Nikita Volonski, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6.
Bruno Nkomba and Rhett Purcell also had a close three-set battle but Purcell prevailed, winning 2-6, 7-6, 7-6.
