China Open: Katie Boulter beats Taylor Townsend in straight sets to set up possible Coco Gauff clash in Beijing
Katie Boulter recovered from losing her first service game of the match to beat Taylor Townsend in straight sets and faces Coco Gauff in round three; watch ATP and WTA action on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+ which is integrated into Sky TV, NOW and the app
Saturday 28 September 2024 12:52, UK
Britain's Katie Boulter overcame a slow start to beat Taylor Townsend in straight sets in the second round of the China Open.
After losing her first service game of the match, Boulter recovered to win 6-4 6-4 in Beijing, setting up a third-round meeting with fourth seed Coco Gauff.
Playing her first match since making a disappointing second-round exit from the US Open in August, Boulter showed poise in the key moments to advance in an hour and 34 minutes.
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The British No 1 failed to take three break points in the opening game of the match and then immediately lost her own serve to fall behind.
Having failed to take three further break points, Boulter finally capitalised on a fourth chance in the seventh game of the match to get back on serve.
She then followed up by breaking once more in Townsend's next service game before calmly closing out the set on her own delivery.
Boulter applied pressure throughout the second set but failed to take break-point opportunities at 2-2 and 3-3, before finally converting to take a 5-4 lead.
Once more, the 26th seed had no problem closing out, finishing the match with a powerful forehand winner.
Boulter, who received a first-round bye thanks to her seeding, ended the match having taken just three of 12 break points.
It will be a third career meeting between Boulter and Gauff, who has just confirmed Matt Daly as her new coach after parting ways with Brad Gilbert.
Pegula eases through | Osaka claims comeback win
Second-seeded Jessica Pegula opened her account by beating Diane Parry of France 6-1 7-6.
Pegula broke Parry's serve three times in a swift opening set. The second set saw both players trade breaks before the US Open finalist won the final five points of the tiebreak.
The American will next play No 32 seed Veronika Kudermetova, who beat China's Wang Xinyu 3-6 6-4 7-5.
Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka rallied from a set down to beat Yulia Putintseva 3-6 6-4 6-2. Osaka will play American Katie Volynets in the third round.
Sixth-seeded Emma Navarro was upset by Chinese wild card Zhang Shuai 6-4 6-2, while 12th-seeded Diana Shnaider beat former Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin 6-2 6-3.
Sabalenka wins opener
US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka is also into the third round beating Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew in straight sets 6-4 6-1.
Sabalenka is on a 13-match winning streak having won the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati before winning the US Open for the first time.
"In the first set, I was struggling a little bit with the rhythm," Sabalenka said after the match.
"In the second set, seems like everything started working much better. ... I think that's why it was more smooth and better quality."
Watch both the China Open and Japan Open this week, live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, with coverage starting at 3am each morning.
What's on Sky Sports Tennis in September?
- Japan Open - ATP 500 (September 25-October 1)
- China Open - ATP 500 (September 26-October 2)
- China Open - WTA 1000 (September 25-October 6)
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
