Qualifier Ana Konjuh provided a big shock in the first round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open on Tuesday by knocking out world number 28 Kristina Mladenovic in three sets.
Konjuh is ranked 68 on the WTA circuit but had shown her mettle earlier this year by triumphing in Nottingham and lifting the inaugural Elena Baltacha trophy. On Tuesday, she was playing Mladenovic for the first time but took the first set 6-0 before being pegged back 6-3 in the second.
She then made the most of Mladenovic failing to win any more break points and clinched a 6-3 win in the decider to set up a match with Caroline Wozniacki, who was given a first-round bye.
United States hopefuls had a mixed day in Tokyo, as world number 37 Madison Brengle eased through 6-2 6-2 against Zarina Diyas, but Alison Riske was unable to progress despite pushing Sam Stosur to three sets.
Australian Stosur's match lasted nearly two hours, and she had to fight from a set down to eventually prevail 4-6 6-1 6-3.
Brengle, meanwhile, will face fifth seed Angelique Kerber, after the German world number nine beat Daria Gavrilova 6-2 6-2.
In the all-Japanese battle, Kurumi Nara triumphed 7-6(7/1) 6-2 against Misaki Doi, while Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro beat Kateryna Bondarenko 7-6(7/3) 6-2.
Source: PA
