OSAKA, Japan (AP) — Four-time champion Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan beat 16-year-old British qualifier Laura Robson 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday to reach the second round of the Japan Women’s Open.
Date Krumm ousted Maria Sharapova and Daniela Hantuchova two weeks ago at the Pan Pacific Open, where she turned 40, and wasn’t prepared to underestimate Robson in their first meeting.
“Laura is very young and has a lot of potential so I really needed to focus a lot today,” said Date Krumm.
Third-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel beat Misaki Doi of Japan 6-2, 6-3, and No. 7 Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic downed qualifier Christina McHale of the United States 6-4 6-3.
