Impressive start for Zarina Diyas and Ajla Tomljanovic at Japan Open

Defending champion Zarina Diyas and Ajla Tomljanovic cruised into the second round of the Japan Open.
The sixth-seeded Diyas, who won her maiden WTA Tour trophy in Hiroshima last year, had no problems seeing off Sara Sorribes Tormo as she opened her campaign with a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 in one hour and seven minutes.
Meanwhile, the fifth-ranked Tomljanovic from Australia was also in impressive form as she secured a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Fiona Ferro.
She will face Lin Zhu next after the Chinese player beat Miyu Kato from Japan 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.
“I thought I played a pretty good match from start to finish,” Tomljanovic said after the match. “The conditions got a bit tough – it was windy and a cold – but it’s a really nice court. It feels a bit intimate. You can really hear the crowd.”
Eighth seed Magda Linette advanced with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Johanna Larsson and next up is Tamara Zidansek, who beat Arina Rodionova 6-4, 6-2 while American qualifier Amanda Anisimova booked her place in round two with a 6-1, 6-1 drubbing of Croatia’s Jana Fett.
Meanwhile, Nao Hibino accounted for Eugenie Bouchard’s early exit as the Japanese wildcard beat the Canadian 6-4, 6-4.
More from Tennis365:
Why US Open champion Novak Djokovic still faces a fight to claim the respect he is due
Relentless Novak Djokovic wears down Juan Martin del Potro to win US Open
Meet Marian Vajda, the man who has put Novak Djokovic back at the top of the tennis world
Tennis Today: Serena Williams furore rumbles on plus Sir Andy Murray and Naomi Osaka’s exchange
Comment: Umpire Carlos Ramos was right to ‘go for the jugular’ in US Open final
Latest
-
Wimbledon
Fines revealed for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Nick Kyrgios after bitter Wimbledon grudge match
Stefanos Tsitsipas has been given the biggest fine of Wimbledon so far for unsportsmanlike conduct
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon botch scheduling but Novak Djokovic comes through late in the day
Play did not start for the day on Centre Court until 14:24, due to a centenary celebration.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon day seven: Novak Djokovic comes through in late night clash
A number of new faces have also made the last eight in the women’s singles at Wimbledon for the first time.
-
Wimbledon
Iga Swiatek defeat was coming but vanquisher surprises
Mats Wilander thought it might be a big-serving player who brought Iga Swiatek’s Wimbledon hopes crashing down.
-
Wimbledon
Jannik Sinner topples Carlos Alcaraz in Next Gen Round of 16 battle
The world number 13 squandered five match points before he eventually beat the teenage sensation.
-
Wimbledon
Jelena Ostapenko rants after fourth round exit to Tatjana Maria
Jelena Ostapenko said that the better woman lost her Round of 16 match.
-
News
Watch: Roger Federer receives standing ovation on return to Centre Court
Nearly 30 former champions took part in a parade on Centre Court to mark the anniversary.
-
Wimbledon
Cameron Norrie blows past Tommy Paul to keep British hopes alive
Norrie claimed a 6-4 7-5 6-4 victory over American Tommy Paul to set up a last-eight clash with David Goffin.
-
News
John McEnroe, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer help mark 100 years of Centre Court
Almost 30 former winners of the singles championships returned to SW19 to mark the occasion.
-
Wimbledon
Heather Watson suffers heartbreak at the hands of Jule Niemeier
Watson struggled to make an impression on the German’s serve as she was beaten in the last 16 on Centre Court.