No. 2 seed Katerina Siniakova survived a first-round scare on Monday at the Livesport Prague Open in her native Czech Republic.
Siniakova outlasted American qualifier Louisa Chirico, ranked No. 228 in the world, for a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory in 2 hours and 26 minutes. She offset her seven aces with seven double faults but saved eight of 12 break points.
Czech countrywoman and No. 1 seed Linda Noskova had no such trouble in a 6-3, 6-2 win over Katarina Zavatska of Ukraine. Also advancing to the second round were Poland’s No. 4 seed Magda Linette and No. 6 Magdalena Frech, while lucky loser Kathinka von Deichmann of Liechtenstein upset No. 8 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia 6-4, 6-4.
UniCredit Iasi Open
American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko rallied for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 upset of sixth-seeded Italian Martina Trevisan in the opening round in Iasi, Romania.
Lepchenko took advantage of 12 double faults and broke Trevisan’s serve 11 times in a marathon match that lasted 3 hours and 8 minutes. Lepchenko trailed 4-3 in the second set and 2-1 in the third.
No. 3 seed Jaqueline Cristian of Romania defeated Italy’s Nuria Brancaccio 6-2, 6-4. Fifth-seeded Elina Avanesyan cruised 6-1, 6-2 over Spain’s Leyre Romero Gormaz. France’s Chloe Paquet knocked out No. 7 Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina, while No. 8 Anna Bondar of Hungary was a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Belgian Marie Benoit.
–Field Level Media