Japan Open: Fifth seed Avanesyan upset by Saito in second round

Japanese wildcard Sara Saito advanced to the quarter-finals of the Osaka Open by defeating Armenian Elina Avanesyan, the No 5 seed, 7-6 (2), 6-4 at the Utsubo Tennis Center on Thursday.

Saito, ranked No 179, will face Australian qualifier Kimberly Birrell next. This is the 18-year-old’s first appearance in the main draw of a WTA Tour event.

The 18-year-old Japanese won against Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (6-3, 6-2) in the previous round of the tournament.

Earlier in the week, Avanesyan, ranked No 48, beat American Ashlyn Krueger (7-6 (1), 6-3).

Osaka WTA 250, other second-round results (Utsubo Tennis Center, hard, USD 267,080):

• Kimberly Birrell beat Elise Mertens (3): 3-6, 7-5, 4-1 ret.
• Diane Parry (7) beat Greet Minnen: 6-4, 6-2
• Ana Bogdan (Q) beat Marie Bouzkova (4): 6-0, 7-6 (5)
• Aoi Ito (Q) beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto (8): 6-4, 6-3
• Clara Tauson beat Harriet Dart: 6-3, 6-2
• Suzan Lamens (Q) beat Lucia Bronzetti: 6-3, 6-4
• Eva Lys (LL) beat McCartney Kessler: 7-6 (7), 3-6, 7-5

You might also like this

Swiatek hires Wim Fissette as new coach

tennis majors

“Glad I lost” – Sabalenka credits US Open 2023 failure for win over local Zheng in Wuhan final

tennis majors

Gauff qualifies for WTA Finals after spoiler, Rybakina, Pegula, Paolini also make the cut

tennis majors

“I’m not done with the racket yet” – Venus Williams

tennis majors