Kontaveit, Bencic, Mertens progress in St. Petersburg
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Seeded players Anett Kontaveit, Belinda Bencic and Elise Mertens have all got through tough three-set matches to reach the second round of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. The second-seeded Kontaveit defeated Swiss player Jil Teichmann 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 on the opening day of the tournament. Fifth seed Bencic came from 3-0 down in the third set to force a tiebreak and defeat Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5), and No. 8 seed Mertens came from a break down in the third set to beat Alizé Cornet 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Ekaterina Alexandrova defeated Italy’s Camila Giorgi 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.