Seeds safely through in Acapulco, but Belinda Bencic crashes out

Lesia Tsurenko and Daria Gavrilova advanced on day one of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, but Belinda Bencic was knocked out.

Defending champion Tsurenko beat American Lauren Davis 6-4, 6-1 to set up an encounter with Arina Rodionova, who beat Kateryna Kozlova.

Third seed Gavrilova didn’t have it all her own way against Madison Brengle as she came from a set down to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in two hours and 21 minutes.

“It was so hot, especially in the first set, but I looked at the weather forecast and so I knew it that after an hour or so the weather would drop down,” Gavrilova said.

“So I was just trying to hang in there for the first set and trying to be really tough battling it out. And when the weather went down I felt much better.”

She will face either Kristyna Pliskova or wildcard Renata Zarazua in the second round.

Fifth seed Irina-Camelia Begu also advanced as she overcame American Christina McHale 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

However, Switzerland’s Bencic crashed out on day one as she was beaten 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 by Mexican Cepede Royg, much to delight of the local fans.