Heather Watson snaps losing streak, Dominika Cibulkova into quarters

Shahida Jacobs

Heather Watson won her opening match at the Nuremberg Cup while Dominika Cibulkova eased into the quarter-final in Strasbourg.

After suffering eight consecutive defeats, Great Britain’s Watson returned to winning ways as she beat Kateryna Bondarenko 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3) in two hours and 38 minutes in Germany.

It was the 26-year-old’s first victory since the Hobart International in January and she will face Hungarian qualifier Fanny Stollar in the next round.

Sixth seed Sorana Cirstea was also made to work for her win as she battled to a 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-5) win over Andrea Petkovic to set up a quarter-final clash against Madison Brengle from the United States.

Also through are Krystina Pliskova, who beat Lara Arruabarrena 6-3, 7-5, and Johanna Larson who saw off Christine McHale 6-3, 6-0.

Over in Strasbourg, the seeded duo of Timea Babos and Danielle Collins both exited on Tuesday afternoon.

Zarina Diyas from Kazakhstan beat the sixth-ranked Babos 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-2 while the seventh-seeded Collins went down 6-4, 5-7, 2-6 to Wang Qiang from China.

However, fourth-ranked Mihaela Buzarnescu beat Elena Rybakina 6-3, 7-6, (7-2) while fifth seed Dominika Cibulkova from Slovakia secured a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Reka Luca Jani.

Former Australian Open finalist Cibulkova will face either second seed Daria Gavrilova or defending champion Sam Stosur in the quarter-final.

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