Qualifier Mattek-Sands upsets seventh-seed Tamira Paszek in Austria

Linz, Austria (4E Sports) – American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands scored the biggest win of the day as she eliminated seventh seed Tamira Paszek of Austria, 6-2, 6-4, Tuesday in the first round of the Generali Ladies Linz.

Mattek-Sands built a 3-0 lead in the second set and headed for a complete domination when Paszek clawed back to even the count at three.

However, the American netter stood her ground and kicked her play into high gear to complete the upset victory.

“We’re good friends on the tour and it’s always tough playing a friend, but I think we both played a great match,” said Mattek-Sands, who was 30th in the world ranking last year but dropped to No. 201 due to injuries.

Mattek-Sands will next face Carla Suarez Navarro, who defeated Magdalena Rybarikova, 6-3, 6-4 in her opening match.

Fifth seed Julia Goerges, the other seeded player in action, advanced to the next round after edging Daniela Hantuchova, 6-4, 7-6 (5). She will next tackle Romina Oprandi, who beat Alexandra Cadantu, 6-2, 6-1.

In other games, Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium beat Alize Cornet of France, 6-4, 6-3 while Irina Begu of Romania downed Catalina Castano of Colombia, 6-0, 6-4.

At the Japan Women’s Open, unseeded Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand eliminated fifth seed Yaroslava Shvedova with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in the opening round.

Aside from Shvedova, fourth seed Franchesca Schiavone bit the dust after retiring midway through her match against Olga Puchkova with a wrist injury.

In other matches, sixth seed Anabel Medina Garrigues advanced to the second round with a hard-earned 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Camila Giorgi while eighth seed Laura Robson beat Eleni Daniilidou, 6-4, 6-2.

Meanwhile, eighth seed John Isner booked his place in the third round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters with a 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 7-6(7) victory over Kevin Anderson in two hours and 46 minutes.

Isner hammered 24 aces and won 79 percent of his service points to improve to his match record to 44-18 this season. He will face the winner of the Richard Gasquet-Radek Stepanek encounter in the second round.

Croatian No. 10 seed Marin Cilic joined Isner in the third round after defeating Slovakian Martin Klizan, 7-5, 6-1, while Canadian No. 12 seed Milos Raonic hit 14 aces to beat Australian qualifier Marinko Matosevic 7-6(4), 6-3.

Raonic will face Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who dismissed Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-2 in 73 minutes. French No. 15 seed Gilles Simon knocked out Jurgen Melzer of Austria 6-4, 6-2 in 82 minutes.

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