Hibino, Nara win in Tashkent Open 1st round

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) Japan's Nao Hibino and Kurumi Nara were among the winners on the first day of main-draw play at the WTA Tashkent Open on Monday as

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) Japan's Nao Hibino and Kurumi Nara were among the winners on the first day of main-draw play at the WTA Tashkent Open on Monday as both beat junior players.

Fourth-seeded Hibino, the reigning champion, had few problems beating 16-year-old Komola Umarova of Uzbekistan, winning 6-3, 6-1 in less than an hour.

Nara, the fifth seed, defeated 16-year-old junior Wimbledon finalist Dayana Yastremska, 7-5, 6-2. Yastremska, of Ukraine, made Nara work for almost two hours for a 7-5, 6-2 win in which the Japanese player saved six of eight break points.

The ninth-seeded Czech Denisa Allertova also advanced, beating Japanese qualifier Hiroko Kuwata 6-3, 6-4.