Osaka Open: Avanesyan ends Krueger’s title defence

Armenian Elina Avanesyan, the No 5 seed, won against American Ashlyn Krueger 7-6 (1), 6-3 to reach the second round of the Osaka Open at the Utsubo Tennis Center on Tuesday.

Avanesyan needed an hour, 32 minutes to oust Krueger, the defending champion.

The Armenian needed three aces and five break-point conversions with an average of 83 percent to beat the American, who committed seven double faults.

Avanesyan, ranked No 48, will face Japanese wildcard Sara Saito next.

Osaka WTA 250, other first-round results (Utsubo Tennis Center, hard, USD 267.080, most recent results first):

• Kimberly Birrell vs. Saisai Zheng
• Sara Saito beat Jessica Bouzas Maneiro: 6-3, 6-2
• Elise Mertens (3) beat Mai Hontama (WC): 6-1, 6-1
• Ana Bogdan (Q) beat Veronika Kudermetova: 6-2, 6-2
• Diane Parry (7) beat Erika Andreeva: 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1
• Marie Bouzkova (4) beat Moyuka Uchijima: 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-3
• Harriet Dart beat Laura Siegemund (Q): 3-6, 7-5, 7-5
• Greet Minnen beat Bianca Andreescu (WC): 6-3, 6-0
• Eva Lys (LL) beat Camila Osorio: 6-2, 6-3
• Aoi Ito (Q) beat Sofia Kenin (WC): 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
• Elisabetta Cocciaretto (8) beat Jessika Ponchet (LL): 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (3)
• McCartney Kessler beat Ena Shibahara (Q): 6-4, 6-1
• Lucia Bronzetti beat Cristina Bucsa: 6-3, 6-4
• Clara Tauson beat Katie Volynets: 6-1, 6-4
• Suzan Lamens (Q) beat Viktoriya Tomova (6): 6-1, 6-2

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