SAN DIEGO — Katie Boulter of Britain and Daria Saville of Australia scored decisive wins Monday within the rain-interrupted opening spherical of the Cymbiotika San Diego Open.
Boulter earned her first win over Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko in 4 profession matchups, 6-3, 6-1, in a single hour and 11 minutes.
“I understand how powerful she could be to play towards,” stated Boulter, who collected her tenth victory over a top-50 opponent. “I’ve by no means gained towards her earlier than. I knew right this moment was going to be an absolute battle. I simply got here out and tried to compete and do the very best I may. I do not suppose both of us performed our greatest tennis, however typically it is about discovering a manner, and I did that.”
The Thirty sixth-ranked Tsurenko was certainly taking part in a few of her finest tennis earlier this month in Doha, Qatar, the place she shocked sixth-ranked Ons Jabeur within the second spherical. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old was unable to take the courtroom for her spherical of 16 matchup with Naomi Osaka as a result of a proper elbow harm. On Monday, she had eight double faults and gained simply 4 of 21 second-serve factors.
Saville continues to cost again towards the highest 100 after experiencing a collection of harm setbacks. The 29-year-old upset 58th-ranked Zhu Lin for the second time in 2024, 6-3, 6-3. She additionally defeated the Chinese language baseliner in January on her strategy to the semifinals in Hobart, Australia.
“I undoubtedly needed to run loads right this moment,” stated Saville, who transformed all 4 of her break-point alternatives towards Zhu. “However that is principally my sport. I am glad that I took alternatives once I may, took my very own probabilities and made it occur.”
It was the third win in as many days for Saville, who got here by means of the qualifying rounds.
“I all the time suppose that qualifiers are fairly harmful,” she stated. “I’ve had a few of my finest runs from taking part in qualifying.”
German qualifier Jule Niemeier beat Varvara Gracheva of France of their first-ever matchup, 6-3, 6-0, in simply 54 minutes.
Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion, will make her event debut on Tuesday night time towards Anna Blinkova.
