WTA roundup: Barbora Krejcikova continues surge, advances in Athens

Top-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark and third-seeded Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic cruised to victories on Thursday in the second round at the Athens Open in Greece.

Tauson routed Italy’s Miriana Tona, 6-4, 6-0, while Krejcikova dropped only two games in a 6-0, 6-2 triumph over France’s Carole Monnet.

However, second-seeded Ann Li fell to Russian Alina Korneeva, 6-2, 6-2. Li won only 25 of 60 (41.7%) of her service points in the match on the hard courts of Athens.

In the day’s other match, seventh-seeded Czech Tereza Valentova had little trouble with Russia’s Aliaksandra Sasnovich, defeating her 6-3, 6-2. Valentova capitalized on her opponent’s poor second service, winning 16 of 19 points.

In the lone quarterfinal matchup of seeded players on Friday, Tauson will take on fifth-seeded Czech Sara Bejlek. Local favorite and fourth-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece faces Alycia Parks.

UniCredit Iasi Open

Spain’s unseeded Paula Badosa continued her improved play as she outlasted Russia’s Alevtina Ibragimova, 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals on the clay in Romania.

The former World No. 2 player is coming off a tournament victory in Bastad, Sweden, a week ago. After losing 10 of 12 games and falling behind 4-1 in the deciding set, Badosa rallied to win the final five games of the match. She secured the victory on her fourth match point attempt off of Ibragimova’s serve.

Third-seeded Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine routed Russia’s Elena Pridankina, 6-1, 6-2, while Hungary’s No. 5 Panna Udvardy rallied to edge Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa, 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.

In a match of unseeded players, Egypt’s Mayar Sherif edged Kaitlin Quevado of Spain, 6-3, 7-6 (2).

–Field Level Media