Schmiedlova, Van Uytvanck rally for first round victories

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Second-seeded Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia and eighth-seeded Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium were stretched to three sets on Monday in the first round of the Korea Open.

Schmiedlova defeated Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in just over two hours. Pliskova served five of her nine aces in the third set but saw 31st-ranked Schmiedlova save three break points to clinch the decider.

The 58th-ranked Van Uytvanck served nine aces but took close to two hours in defeating Romanian player Andreea Mitu 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (2).

Fifth-seeded Mona Barthel and seventh-seeded Julia Goerges, both of Germany, advanced to the second round with straight-set victories.

Polona Hercog of Slovenia, Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia and Mariana Duque-Marino of Colombia were the other winners on Monday.