WUHAN: In her first match since losing in the US Open final, Roberta Vinci rallied to beat qualifier Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 on Monday in the first round of the Wuhan Open.

The 15th-seeded Italian was broken three times in the opening set, but picked up her game to advance to the second round.

At the US Open, Vinci stopped Serena Williams’ bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam by upsetting the American in the semi-finals.

Maria Sharapova’s comeback from a leg injury lasted less than three sets before she retired with a left arm problem against unseeded Barbora Strycova.

The world number three had been out with a persistent leg injury since July, when she lost a Wimbledon semi-final to Serena, and pulled out of three events including the US Open.

But the Russian’s long-awaited return proved short-lived as she was pushed to two tie-breaks by the Czech Republic’s Strycova in their second-round match before withdrawing when 2-1 up in the third.

Earlier, Eugenie Bouchard withdrew from the tournament because of the concussion she sustained during the US Open.

The Canadian was due to meet 18-year-old Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in the first round. Bencic then faced lucky loser Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia and won 7-5, 7-5.

Bouchard lost the final at the inaugural Wuhan Open last year to Petra Kvitova. The tournament is hosted in the home city of Li Na, the country’s only Grand Slam winner.

Also in the first round, ninth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia defeated Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-1, 6-3; Sloane Stephens of the United States beat Alison Riske 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 and 14th-seeded Madison Keys beat Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4).

Eighth-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, who had a bye in the first round, defeated Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 7-6 (7-5) in the second round.

Lucic-Baroni had beaten former US Open champion Samantha Stosur of Australia 6-2, 6-1 in Sunday’s opening day when China’s only two players in the tournament were knocked out.

Zheng Saisai, China’s top ranked player at 66th, crashed out against American Varvara Lepchenko, 6-4, 6-0, while Fangzhou Liu also lost her first round match to Romanian Monica Niculescu in two sets.

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, semi-finalist last year, sailed into the second round with a 6-4, 6-4 win over wild card entrant Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.

Former world number one Victoria Azarenka of Belarus knocked out US youngster Lauren Davis 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), qualifier Johanna Konta of Britain ousted 13th-seeded Andrea Petkovic of Germany in straight sets while Coco Vandeweghe of the US also advanced.

Results (x denotes seeding):

Women’s singles:

Second round: Barbora Strycova (CZE) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS x2) 6-7 (1/7), 7-6 (7/4), 1-2 ret; Karolina Pliskova (CZE x8) bt Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 7-6 (7/5).

First round: Irina-Camelia Begu (ROM) bt Zarina Diyas (KAZ) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/5); Belinda Bencic (SUI x11) bt Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) 7-5, 7-5; Roberta Vinci (ITA x15) bt Danka Kovinic (MNE) 5-7, 6-1, 6-3; Sloane Stephens (USA) bt Alison Riske (USA) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3; Madison Brengle (USA) bt Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 6-3, 6-4; Ana Ivanovic (SRB x9) bt Alexandra Dulgheru (ROM) 6-1, 6-3; Madison Keys (USA x14) bt Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4); Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) bt Patricia Tig (ROM) 6-1, 6-4; Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) bt Mariana Duque (COL) 6-4, 6-4; Jelena Jankovic (SRB) bt Heather Watson (GBR) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3; Camila Giorgi (ITA) bt Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5; Caroline Garcia (FRA) bt Sara Errani (ITA x16) 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-2; Venus Williams (USA) bt Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x10) 6-1, 7-6 (7/4).

Published in Dawn September 29th, 2015

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