You're not often a top seed in a European W25 event with a sub 300 ranking, so a good opportunity for Fran here. Samsonova was originally the top seed but withdrew after reaching WTA Palermo semi final last week. I've not heard of this opponent, and looking at her recent record, it doesn't appear very spectacular, so possibly one of those random WCs the Italians seem to like handing out for their events, which Chloe C knows all about.

The winner will definitely play a qualifier in R2 and the vast majority of those seem to be unranked, so a great opportunity for her to at least make the QF (and hopefully beyond).

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Monday 29th of July 2019 10:24:16 PM

6-0 6-2 for Fran

Spigarelli was the top seed in qualifying and just beat Dentoni in R1 who beat Emma Rad in a W15 final at some point fairly recently and was the only qualifier I had heard of, so might not be the easiest, but on paper it should be OK you'd think, especially with Fran's recent record at W25 level.

Not a great start for Fran....... 0-3

Fran won the first set TB (9-7) and has held at the start of the second. Has 1 BP here as well...

7-6(7) *2-0

Hopefully on her way now.

-- Edited by Ace Ventura on Thursday 1st of August 2019 05:06:20 PM

Fran looks as if she will relatively lose out in the rankings just a little when the 15K points get added. She adds just 4 net points on 05/08 and OER is currently showing her live ranked 316 compared to her WR 304 on 29/07.

With 5 points due off on 12/08 she has so far added a further net 4 points for then, taking her to 167 points. A further 9 points if she reaches the SF could have her back under WR 300 and close to her CH 297.

Fran underway, on serve, 2-1*, but they've already exchanged breaks.