Jovanovski in Round 2 of Tashkent Open

Top seeded Bojana Jovanovski and local wildcard entrant Akgul Amanmuradova encountered close openers before entering the women's singles second round at the 16th edition of the Tashkent Open WTA Championships which began here Monday.

Meanwhile, qualifier Lyudmyla Kichenok registered the first upset of the event, knocking out Danka Kovinic of Montenegro at the Olympic School of Tennis complex. Kichenok toppled the eighth seed 7-6(5), 7-6(2) to reach the second round.

World No.35 Jovanovski found her rhythm late in the second set to set up a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over former World No.29 Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine while Amanmuradova made a comeback after a year-long lay off due to injury to overcome Jovana Jaksic of Serbia 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in an hour and 54 minutes.

"I was a bit rusty and just couldn't find my shots. But in the middle of the second set I thought I should go out if I have to stay and changed strategy, going for strokes which paid off," said Jovanovski, who will next face Russian former winner Alla Kudryavtseva, who defeated Ukraine qualifier Maryna Zanevska 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

First round results:

Women's singles: 1-Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) bt Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) bt Olivia Rogowska (AUS) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, Akgul Manmuradova (UZB) bt Jovana Jaksic (SRB) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) bt 8-Danka Kovinic (MNE) 7-6(5), 7-6(2), Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) bt Maryna Zanevska (UKR) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, Urzula Radwanska (POL) bt Vesna Dolonc (SRB) 6-2, 6-2.

Women's doubles: Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) and Alexandra Panova (RUS) bt Cagla Buyukakcay (TUR) and Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) 6-1, 6-0, Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) and Katerina Siniakova (CZE) bt Misaki Doi (JPN) and Oksana Kalashnikova (GEO) 6-2, 3-6, 13-11, Olga Govotsova (BEL) and Klaudia Jans-Ignacik (POL) bt Irinia Camelia Begu (ROM) and Karin Knapp (ITA) 6-3, 6-4.