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Birmingham - British pair Heather Watson and Johanna Konta both made it through to the second round of the AEGON Classic with straight-set victories in Edgbaston.
The Daily Mail's website reports that Watson, seeded 14th, is ranked more than 70 places above her opponent Melinda Czink but the win was nevertheless far from a certainty as she continues to make her way back from the bout of glandular fever that kept her out for more than two months.
Watson returned to action with a three-set defeat by Stefanie Voegele in the first round of the French Open but today she dug out a welcome and hard-fought 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) victory.
The 21-year-old was more consistent all round, and wrapped up victory on the Ann Jones Court in one hour 27 minutes to earn a second-round match against Russian Alla Kudryavtseva.
Konta booked a date with Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic following a dominant 6-2, 6-4 victory over Japan's Kurumi Nara in 63 minutes.
Mladenovic, seeded 12, represents tough opposition for the Briton although she was given a thorough workout by British No 4 Tara Moore.
Moore was dominant on serve in the opening set but her opponent hit back to take the second on a tie-break before sealing a 5-7, 7-6, (7/5) 6-4 victory in 2hr 20min.
Robson will return for the singles where she will face Daniela Hantuchova after the Slovakian beat Australian wild card Casey Dellacqua 6-1, 7-6 (7-1).
In other first-round singles matches on Tuesday, Yanina Wickmayer, seeded ninth, defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), Andrea Hlavackova beat Olga Puchkova 6-2, 6-4 and Maria Sanchez won 6-3, 6-2 win over Jana Cepelova.
In second-round action, sixth seed Mona Barthel beat Vesna Dolonic 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.
Results from the second day of the WTA Birmingham Open(x denotes seeding):
Second round:
Mona Barthel (GER x6) bt Vesna Manasieva (SRB) 7-5, 2-6, 7-5
First round:
Andrea Hlavckov (CZE) bt Olga Puchkova (RUS) 6-2, 6-4
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL x9) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-2, 7-6 (7/5)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA x12) bt Tara Moore (GBR) 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4
Maria Sanchez (USA) bt Jana Cepelov (SVK) 6-3, 6-2
Heather Watson (GBR x14) bt Melinda Czink (HUN) 6-4, 7-6 (7/0)
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) bt Casey Dellacqua (AUS) 6-1, 7-6 (7/1)
Johanna Konta (GBR) bt Kurumi Nara (JPN) 6-2, 6-4
The Daily Mail's website reports that Watson, seeded 14th, is ranked more than 70 places above her opponent Melinda Czink but the win was nevertheless far from a certainty as she continues to make her way back from the bout of glandular fever that kept her out for more than two months.
Watson returned to action with a three-set defeat by Stefanie Voegele in the first round of the French Open but today she dug out a welcome and hard-fought 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) victory.
The 21-year-old was more consistent all round, and wrapped up victory on the Ann Jones Court in one hour 27 minutes to earn a second-round match against Russian Alla Kudryavtseva.
Konta booked a date with Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic following a dominant 6-2, 6-4 victory over Japan's Kurumi Nara in 63 minutes.
Mladenovic, seeded 12, represents tough opposition for the Briton although she was given a thorough workout by British No 4 Tara Moore.
Moore was dominant on serve in the opening set but her opponent hit back to take the second on a tie-break before sealing a 5-7, 7-6, (7/5) 6-4 victory in 2hr 20min.
Robson will return for the singles where she will face Daniela Hantuchova after the Slovakian beat Australian wild card Casey Dellacqua 6-1, 7-6 (7-1).
In other first-round singles matches on Tuesday, Yanina Wickmayer, seeded ninth, defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), Andrea Hlavackova beat Olga Puchkova 6-2, 6-4 and Maria Sanchez won 6-3, 6-2 win over Jana Cepelova.
In second-round action, sixth seed Mona Barthel beat Vesna Dolonic 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.
Results from the second day of the WTA Birmingham Open(x denotes seeding):
Second round:
Mona Barthel (GER x6) bt Vesna Manasieva (SRB) 7-5, 2-6, 7-5
First round:
Andrea Hlavckov (CZE) bt Olga Puchkova (RUS) 6-2, 6-4
Yanina Wickmayer (BEL x9) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-2, 7-6 (7/5)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA x12) bt Tara Moore (GBR) 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4
Maria Sanchez (USA) bt Jana Cepelov (SVK) 6-3, 6-2
Heather Watson (GBR x14) bt Melinda Czink (HUN) 6-4, 7-6 (7/0)
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) bt Casey Dellacqua (AUS) 6-1, 7-6 (7/1)
Johanna Konta (GBR) bt Kurumi Nara (JPN) 6-2, 6-4
