WTA Auckland Classic: Top seed Roberta Vinci beaten by teenager Ana Konjuh
Teenager Ana Konjuh caused a major upset at the Auckland Classic on Tuesday by knocking out top seed Roberta Vinci.
Last Updated: 31/12/13 10:45am
Konjuh, who turned 16 on Friday, came from behind to stun her more experienced Italian opponent 3-6 6-4 6-2 and book a place in the second round.
"It's amazing, I can't believe I just did it," said Konjuh, who is ranked 259 in the world.
"It was a great match, great experience for me. I just hope I'm going to recover to play tomorrow."
Konjuh, who capped a breakthrough 2013 by winning the junior Australian and US Opens, started slowly against the world No 14 but blew the 30-year-old veteran off the court in the second and third sets, showing no sign of nerves.
"I was like 'don't even think about winning the match, just play every point like it's your last and give 100 per cent of yourself' - and I did it," she said.
Scrappy win
Earlier, former world No 1 Ana Ivanovic ground out a scrappy win over American Alison Riske.
The Serbian prevailed 7-5 7-6 (2) in just under two hours but looked unconvincing against Riske, who is ranked 41 places below the world No 16.
"It was a tough first round and I was really happy to get through that second set," she said. "I think there was a bit of wind and nerves."
Third seed Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium defeated Monica Puig of Puerto Rico 6-4 7-5 but said she needed to lift her intensity in the next round.
"I was happy with my serve, in the important points it was there," she said. "The thing I can improve in the next match is to be more aggressive."
Flipkens' compatriot Yanina Wickmayer, a finalist here last year, crashed out 7-6 (3) 6-0 to Czech qualifier Kristyna Pliskova.
Fourth seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania capitulated 6-1 6-4 to Canada's Sharon Fichman, while Ayumi Morita of Japan ousted Czech sixth seed Lucie Safarova 7-6 (2) 6-3 and Germany's Julia Goerges ousted eighth-seeded Italian Karin Knapp4-6 7-6 (3) 7-6 (2).
