Kerber beats Gavrilova to reach Tokyo 2nd round
TOKYO (AP) Germany's Angelique Kerber advanced to the second round of the Tokyo Pan Pacific Open on Tuesday following a 6-2, 6-2 win over Daria Gavrilova of Russia.
The fifth-seeded Kerber converted the second of six break points against Gavrilova to close out the match in just over an hour. It was her fourth win over the Russian this year.
Kerber next faces Madison Brengle of the United States, who beat Zarina Diyas with an identical 6-2, 6-2 score.
In other first-round matches, sixth-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain beat Kateryna Bondarenko 7-6 (3), 6-2, former U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur of Australia defeated Alison Riske 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, and Croatian qualifier Ana Konjuh came through against Kristina Mladenovic 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.
Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, who received a first-round bye, plays Konjuh next.