COLLEGE PARK, Maryland (AP)—Britain’s Elena Baltacha hung on in a second-set tiebreak to beat Yaroslava Shvedova on Monday and advance to the second round of the inaugural Citi Open just outside Washington, D.C.
Baltacha beat the Kazakh 6-2, 7-6 (5) to set up a second round meeting with France’s Virginie Razzano, who was a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Japan’s Misaki Doi.
On a good day for Britons, Heather Watson beat Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-4, 6-1, and in the second round she will take on Canada’s Stephanie Dubois, who ousted seventh-seeded Sania Mirza of India 7-5, 6-4.
In a match of two Americans, Varvara Lepchenko beat Sloane Stephens 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Her second-round opponent will be either eighth-seeded Alberta Brianti of Italy or another Briton, Anne Keothavong.
Top-seeded Shahar Peer will play Japanese qualifier Ryoko Fuda on Tuesday in the opening round.