It was quite a day for the Czech Republican players in the draw at the China Open on Sunday. Petra Kvitova made it to the second round in what was the final match of the schedule. A couple of her compatriots, meanwhile, crashed out.
Kvitova needed three sets that included a comeback from a set down against local hope and wildcard, Xiyu Wang. Their clash went past three hours with Kvitova coming through 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-3. The opening two sets were tough but in the deciding set, Kvitova steadied her course early on despite losing her serve in the first game of the set. Once she’d secured the break back and a second break of serve, she didn’t look back in the match.
Barbora Krejcikova, the 10th seed, lost to Mirra Andreeva. The teen pocketed a 6-2, 6-2 win over her higher-ranked rival after merely 76 minutes.
Yuki’s Putintseva took out Marie Bouzkova in their first-round match-up. The Kazakh prevailed 6-2, 7-6(5). Putintseva needed two hours and seven minutes to score the win.
China Open: Linda Fruhvirtova, Linda Noskova find their way
Linda Fruhvirtova and Linda Noskova were the other two Czech Republicans who entered the second round.
Fruhvirtova, who made it to the Ningbo Open semi-finals last week (l. to Diana Shnaider), won against Arantxa Rus, 6-0, 6-3. Noskova defeated home wildcard Fangran Tian, 6-4, 6-2. Both matches were completed after an hour and 24 minutes of play.
Jelena Ostapenko, seeded 13th got through to the second round as well with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Eva Lys of Germany. Ostapenko will play Noskova for a chance to reach the pre-quarters.
The last two players who won their first-round match-ups at the China Open were Jennifer Brady and Katie Boulter. Brady won against fellow countrywoman, Payton Stearns, 6-4, 6-2. The Briton got past Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.