SAN DIEGO (AP) — Katie Boulter of Britain and Daria Saville of Australia scored decisive wins Monday in the rain-interrupted opening round of the Cymbiotika San Diego Open.
Boulter earned her first win over Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko in four career matchups, 6-3, 6-1, in one hour and 11 minutes.
"I know how tough she can be to play against," said Boulter, who collected her 10th victory over a Top 50 opponent. "I've never won against her before. I knew today was going to be an absolute battle. I just came out and tried to compete and do the best I could. I don't think either of us played our best tennis, but sometimes it's about finding a way, and I did that."
The 36th-ranked Tsurenko was indeed playing some of her best tennis earlier this month in Doha, Qatar, where she stunned sixth-ranked Ons Jabeur in the second round. However, the 34-year-old was unable to take the court for her round-of-16 matchup with Naomi Osaka due to a right elbow injury. On Monday, she had eight double faults and won just four of 21 second-serve points.