Kasatkina wins the first game as Aussie; Pegula, Navarro Advance

The world number 12 Daria Kasatkina, born in Russia, won her first game in the second round of the Charleston Open in Australia on Wednesday.

Fifth Seed Kasatkina, who won her first title at the WTA 500 event in 2017, only took 61 minutes to send Home HopeFul Lauren Davis 6: 1, 6: 1 and a game of the third round against another American, Sofia Kenin.

The 27-year-old announced last Friday that her application for permanent residence had been accepted by the Australian government.

Kasatkina had previously played as a neutral athlete on the tour after Russian and Belarusian players were banned under their own flags after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The top seeds Jessica Pegula also went into the third round on Wednesday and held a second comeback attempt by Belarus’ INNA Shymanovich.

The 2024 US Open finalist Bagel set Shymanovich in the first set before it was broken twice in the second.

However, Pegula, who was firm, prevailed 6: 0, 6: 3 and used a tie in the third round against Australia’s Alija Tomljanovic.

Elsewhere, Emma Navarro defeated the fourth seed with her American compatriot Hailey Baptiste 6: 4, 6: 3.