The 30-year-old Plíšková, who celebrated the title in Tokyo in 2018, was in full control from the start of the match, which was played under a cloudy roof due to a typhoon. In the duel with the opponent, who played in the main competition on the WTA circuit for the first time this year, she relied on a reliable serve and spent only 59 minutes on the court.
He will face Martičová for the eighth time in his career. The Croatian woman, who is a year older, leads the balance of the matches 4:3, but the last duel on clay in Rome last year was won by Plíšková.
The winner of the last season played before the covid break, Naomi Ósakaová, also advanced to the second round. The home favorite, who triumphed in 2019 in the then venue of the tournament in Osaka, but only played less than two games against Darje Saville. The Australian injured her knee at 1:0 and 30:30 and had to leave the match.
Lehecka was eliminated in the 1st round
Jiří Lehečka was unable to follow up on his successful performance in the Davis Cup at the Metá tournament. The 20-year-old representative, who won in the role of the Czech No. 1 in both singles in the weekend tie with Israel, lost in France in the first round to Finn Emil Ruusuvuori 4:6, 4:6.
Lehečka, who is ranked 63rd in the ATP world rankings, lost the first set after losing serve for the second time in the marathon ninth game and was unable to react to the loss in the following game. The opponent decided the second set with a single break. Although Lehečka averted two match points with his serve at the end, Ruusuvuori served the match with clarity.
| TOKYO (hard surface, $757,900 subsidy): |
|---|
| Singles – 1st round: |
| Karolína Plíšková (6-CR) – Šinikovová (Bulgaria) 6:2, 6:1 |
| Contreras (Mex.) – Kenin (USA) 7:6 (9:7), 6:4 |
| Zhang Shuai (China) – Hontama (Japan) 6:0, 6:3. |
| SEOUL (hard surface, $251,750 subsidy): |
| Singles – 1st round: |
| Alexandrova (2-Russia) – Muhammadova (USA) 6:1, 3:6, 6:1 |
| Haddadová Maiaová (5-Brazil) – Naitová (Japan) 6:4, 6:2 |
| Osaka (Japan) – Saville (Aust) 1:0 penalty. |
| Marinová (8-Can.) – Fettová (Croatia) 6:1, 6:2 |
| Raina (India) – Inglis (Aust.) 4:6, 7:5, 6:1 |
| Mladenovic (Fr.) – Pak So-jun (Korea) 6:4, 4:6, 6:3 |
| Jiménez Kasincev (Andy) – Paquet (Fr.) 6:2, 6:2 |
| Gasanova (Rus.) – Sharma (Aust.) 7:5, 7:5 |
| Ostapenko (1-Lot.) – Chong Po-jong (Korea) 6:4, 3:6, 7:6 (7:2) |
| Maria (7-Germany) – Bouchard (Can.) 7:6 (7:5), 7:6 (7:5) |
| MÉTY (hard surface, subsidy 597,900 euros): |
| Singles – 1st round: |
| Rusuvuori (Fin.) – Lehečka (ČR) 6:4, 6:4 |
