Japan Open: Local qualifier Ito advances to last eight
The Japanese player will face German lucky loser Eva Lys in the next round
Japanese qualifier Aoi Ito moved into the last eight of the Japan Open by defeating Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, the No 8 seed, 6-4, 6-3 at the Utsubo Tennis Center in Osaka on Wednesday.
Ito, ranked No 188, will face German lucky loser Eva Lys next.
The 20-year-old Japanese edged out American wildcard Sofia Kenin, coming from 4-0 down in the final set to win 6-2, 3-6, 7-5) in the previous round of the tournament in what was her first WTA Tout main draw match.
Earlier in the week, Cocciaretto, ranked No 50, edged out French lucky loser Jessika Ponchet (6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (3)).
Osaka WTA 250, other second-round matches (Utsubo Tennis Center, hard, USD 267.080, most recent results first):
- Clara Tauson beat Harriet Dart: 6-3, 6-2
- Suzan Lamens (Q) beat Lucia Bronzetti: 6-3, 6-4
- Eva Lys beat McCartney Kessler: 7-6 (7), 3-6, 7-5
- Sara Saito vs. Elina Avanesyan
- Elise Mertens vs. Kimberly Birrell
- Diane Parry vs. Greet Minnen
- Ana Bogdan vs. Marie Bouzkova