Ana Konjuh surprises Donna Vekic in the first round

The loss of eight seeded Donna Vekic was the biggest surprise on the first day of the Portoroz Open in Slovenia on Monday. The Croatian Ana Konjuh recovered after a set deficit against Vekic with 0: 6, 6: 3, 6: 2 in one hour and 55 minutes.

Konjuh saved 14 of the 18 breakpoints she faced while converting four of the eight breakpoints she had on Vekic’s serve. Vekic, despite her defeat, scored more points for the match compared to her opponent – 86 to 83 the latter.

In the second round Konjuh meets Kristina Mladenovic. It took the French woman an hour and 55 minutes to fight the Slovenian wildcard Nika Radisic. Mladenovic lost the first set, but in the end took a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory for himself.

Mladenovic said after her victory, as quoted by the tournament: “Nothing is easy in tennis and every start is difficult. I was focused from the start. I didn’t know the competition. Usually there is no such pressure in her position as a young player.

Some details in the first sentence were worse. Next I found the rhythm, I showed a better game. I found my focus, was calmer and won. ”

Portoroz Open: Sorana Cirstea dominates Heather Watson

The fourth seeded Sorana Cirstea, the other only seeded who played her first round match on Monday, made it safely into the second round.

The Romanian defeated Heather Watson in just 61 minutes 6-1, 6-3. Cirstea gained 92% of her first serve points versus Watson’s 56%. She also saved three of the four breakpoints she faced, while converting six of 11 breakpoints on the Brit’s serve.

Cirstea finished the match with 58 points versus Watson’s 32 points. In the second round, Cirstea plays either against Tereza Martincova or Kristina Kucova. The American Bernarda Pera also reached the second round of the Portoroz Open.

Pera defeated French Fiona Ferro 6: 4, 6: 3 in one hour and 31 minutes. She expects either the seventh seed Rebecca Peterson or a qualifier in the next round.