Players go indoors to complete second round at ASB Classic

Players go indoors to complete second round at ASB Classic

With so much expectation after the fabulous two opening days, play had to revert to indoors to complete the second round matches of the ASB Classic.

Former World No 4 and Australian Open champion, Sofia Kenin was at home on the indoor surface to account for Xinyu Wang from China 7-6 6-3 to advance to the second round as she returns long-term injury.

She recovered from 0-5 down in the first set tiebreaker, before dominating the second set.

“I’m happy to get the win, in the conditions it wasn’t easy, so I had to adjust pretty fast and I’m happy I was able to do it,” said the 24-year-old.

“It’s easier to play when you’re down I guess, because you feel free and when it gets closer you feel tight.

“But I managed to save two set points, so I’m happy it was clutch tennis.”

It was not such good news for high ranking American Sloane Stephens who was edged by Spain’s Rebeka Masarova 6-3 7-6.

While disappointed, Stephens said it had been a useful build-up towards the Australian Open, and the change to indoor today brought with it a completely different surface to deal with.

Fellow American Lauren Davis was untroubled in dispatching Tamara Zidansek (SLO) 6-2 6-1 and similarly Danka Kovinic (MNE) was too strong for Japan’s Nao Hibino 6-1 6-4.

The final match of the first round saw the hard-hitting Karolina Muchova come home over Xiyu Wang (China) who withdrew with injury late in the first set.

The Kiwi Paige Hourigan, returning from a long-term injury, and Sachia Vickery, from America, fought hard but were edged 7-5 6-3 to Tereza Martincova (CZE) and Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU).

The other winning doubles combinations included alternate Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) and Lin Zhu (CHN) along with Leylah Fernandez (CAN) and Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) who won in the super tiebreak.

Organisers are hoping for a break in the weather to head back outdoors in front of the fans but they have the back-up of the two indoor courts to progress to Sunday’s final.