The top seeds at the Transylvania Open, Simona Halep and Anett Kontaveit got off to a good start on Wednesday, reaching the second round. In an hour and 13 minutes, top seed Halep defeated compatriot Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-1, 6-2.
To Ruse’s 53 per cent, Halep won 83 per cent of her first-serve points. She also won 55 per cent of her second-serve points, compared to 40 per cent for her opponent.
The former world number one saved the only break point she faced and converted four of the eight break point opportunities she was presented with.
Halep won the match with 63 points to 38 for Ruse. Halep will face Varvara Gracheva for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Anett Kontaveit’s journey to Mexico continues at the Transylvania Open
Kontaveit, the second-seeded player, defeated Aleksandra Krunic 6-3, 7-5 in their first-round match.
In the second set, the Estonian broke the Serbian’s service three times while only losing her serve once – on the only break point she faced.
In-form Anett Kontaveit gets her 6th consecutive win ?
— Transylvania Open (@TransylvaniaOpn) October 27, 2021
She prevailed over Alexandra Krunic, 6-2, 7-5, to keep her hopes alive for a place into the WTA Tour Finals in Guadalajara ?#TO2021 pic.twitter.com/24oDEyY8yQ
Anett Kontaveit won 76 per cent of her first-serve points, compared to 68 per cent for Krunic, and 64 per cent of her second-serve points, compared to 45 per cent for the latter.
Kontaveit, who is attempting to qualify for the WTA Finals in Guadalajara. Following a strong showing in Cluj-Napoca this week, has now won 11 straight indoor matches.
She has now won 22 of the 24 matches she has played recently.
Alison Van Uytvanck is Kontaveit’s next opponent. The only shock of the day in Romania was fifth seed Ajla Tomljanovic.
In their pre-quarterfinal match, Jaqueline Cristian defeated the Australian 7-6(5), 7-5 in two hours and eleven minutes.
If Halep wins her second-round match, she will compete against Cristian for a position in the semi-finals.
Lesia Tsurenko and Anhelina Kalinina, both from Ukraine. Advanced to the quarterfinals of the Transylvania Open after winning their respective second-round matches.
Tsurenko beat Anastasia Gasanova 6-2, 7-5 and will face Irina Bara or Rebecca Peterson in the next round. Meanwhile, Anna-Lena Friedsam was defeated 6-2, 6-2 by eighth-seeded Kalinina.
Kalinina will be Anett Kontaveit’s next opponent if she advances to the quarterfinals.
Read More: Halep and Kontaveit both win their first-round matches in Kremlin Cup