Astra Sharma has booked her spot in the second round of the WTA's Charleston Open, but at the expense of fellow Australian Arina Rodionova.
Create a free account to read this article
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 28-year-old world No.135, who tasted success in South Carolina three years ago when she captured her sole career title at a WTA 250 event, recorded a 6-4 6-1 win in 73 minutes.
Sharma, a lucky loser in the final round of qualifying, took all four of her break-point opportunities and will next face 16th-seeded Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko at the clay-court event.
Elsewhere on Wednesday (AEDT), top seed Jessica Pegula rallied from a set down to beat fellow American Amanda Anisimova 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in a second-round match.
Pegula had seven aces and won despite capitalising on just four of 15 break points.
"I just kind of found a way today, but it was a really great match, I thought, especially the last set was super high level," Pegula said.
Third-seeded Maria Sakkari of Greece also advanced with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova, while Magda Linette of Poland stormed back to beat No.13 seed Dayana Yastremska 0-6 6-4 6-3.
Miami Open champion Danielle Collins and Sloane Stephens were also victorious.
Collins, who has said this season would be her last because she's suffering from endometriosis, an ailment that affects the uterus, beat Spain's Paula Badosa 6-1 6-4.
"I'd rather like to go out with a bang, you know, than the other way," Collins said.
"I know everybody has a different way of ending their professional career, and for me I want to go out playing my best tennis."
Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, defeated Poland's Magdalena Frech 6-0 6-2, on what she describes as her favourite surface.
"It's more athletic. It's more running, more sliding, just a lot more adversity I feel like, but in a good way," Stephens said.
"When you think the point is over, it's never over."
Australian Associated Press
