Tennis

Top-seeded Muguruza wins Linz opener, Dodin reaches quarters

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:13 p.m. ET

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LINZ, Austria (AP) French Open champion Garbine Muguruza advanced to the second round of the Generali Ladies by beating Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday.

The top-seeded Spaniard dropped serve twice and saved six more break points as she struggled for consistency against the 69th-ranked Buyukakcay.

''On this surface it was very difficult for me,'' Muguruza said. ''It's my first indoor event so it's hard to find your rhythm.''

Muguruza, who was a late entry to the event after U.S. Open finalist Karolina Pliskova pulled out, will next play Monica Niculescu of Romania.

French qualifier Oceane Dodin became the first player to reach the quarterfinals by beating Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-2, 6-4. The 89th-ranked Dodin, who won her maiden title in Quebec last month, had eight aces and avoided break points on her serve.

Earlier, second-seeded Dominika Cibulkova advanced to the second round by beating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-1, 6-2. The 10th-ranked Slovak, who reached the final in 2011, converted all six break points while Bencic managed to hold her serve only once in the match.

Cibulkova will play Annika Beck of Germany for a place in the quarterfinals.

Also, third-seeded Madison Keys of the United States defeated Camila Giorgi of Italy 6-3, 6-4, and Kirsten Flipkens advanced after Mandy Minella of Luxembourg pulled out with a hip injury after the Belgian won the opening set 6-4.

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