BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP)—Defending champion Bojana Jovanovski advanced to the second round of the Baku Cup, overcoming a rough start to beat Nigina Abduraimova of Uzbekistan 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday.
The top-seeded Serbian lost the first three games before taking the next six. In the second set, she broke twice but dropped her serve in the next game each time and twice double-faulted on match points.
Also on the outdoor hard courts of the Baku Tennis Academy, Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic eliminated eighth-seeded Vesna Dolonc of Serbia 6-1, 6-2. Pliskova had six aces and saved all three break points she faced.