Ana Ivanovic defeats Mona Bartel
Top seed Ana Ivanovic has made the third round of the Aegon Classic after a short lived deficit against Mona Bartel of Germany.
The Serbian world No.13 player won 6-4, 6-1 after going 2-0 down in the beginning of the first set.
On court after her win Ivanovic said: “It was a tough draw. I love England and it's great to be back."
The twenty six year-old also praised the year-on-year development of the tournament: “The whole organization and the gym is great.”
Johanna Konta makes strong start
British No.3 Johanna Konta progressed into the Aegon Classic second round after winning 6-3, 6-1 against fourteenth seed Kurumi Nara.
After the match Konta said: “I felt I played quite a solid match. You know, first rounds of a tournament can always be a bit more nerve wracking. I'm just happy that I went out there and took point by point and took care of business on my end.”
The Briton, who beat Nara at this tournament last year, added: “[Kurumi] won her first WTA earlier in the year, so I was expecting her to be in good form and she is in good form. I just managed to win some key points during the match. I don't think the score-line really shows how the match was.”
Judy Murray was in the crowd during the match and commented: “I think on that performance Jo served very well and she got very good depth on the ground and she has taken the ball early and I thought that was an extremely good, solid performance and it bodes well for her.”
Defending Champion Daniela Hantuchova progresses
The 2013 Aegon Classic champion Daniela Hantuchova began her title defence on Tuesday progressing through to the third round with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.
"I love that court." The world No.31 said after her match. "For me it's the most exciting time of the year to be on the grass. I was really looking forward just to being out there and play a match finally."
In round three Hantuchova plays the winner of Kimiko Date-Krumm and Monica Puig.
Heather Watson falls to Aleksandra Wozniak
Heather Watson lost 6-2, 5-7, 4-6 to Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak in a long battle clocking up to more than two hours.
Watson, who took the first set confidently, commented after her match: “I got pushed back and wasn't playing as aggressive as I wanted to. And she definitely improved her game. At the beginning she was making a lot of unforced errors, and then third set she played unbelievable. She was hitting lines and net cords. There wasn't much I could do."
The twenty-two year-old, who had match points added: “It happens. I've beat people when they've been up and vice versa. It's just a part of tennis. That's the way it goes.”
Wozniak, who came through qualifying plays Konta next.
Aussie rules
Last year’s doubles champion, Casey Dellacqua defeated Ursula Radwanska 6-1, 6-3 in the first round of the singles.
The Australian took the win comfortably in less than an hour against Radwanska, who sits fifty places below her in the world rankings.
Before her sixth appearance at the Aegon Classic, Dellacqua said: “I really enjoy coming here and the fans are really good in Birmingham.”
Barbora beats Broady
Wild card Naomi Broady lost her first round match in Birmingham against Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
The Czech world No.62 beat the British No.4 player 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.
While Strycova will be playing fifth seed Lucie Safarova in the second round, Broady is moving her focus soley to doubles with partner Heather Watson.
After her loss today the twenty-four year old said she thinks they have a good opportunity: “[I am] going to go out and practice this afternoon and get my anger out and hopefully feel better. Heather had a tough one today as well. But we're really looking forward playing with each other. We haven't for a while, so should be really good fun".
Katy Dunne visits Lordswood Community Tennis Club
On Tuesday, Katy Dunne, who has just scored her best ever result by qualifying for the Aegon Classic, visited Lordswood Community Tennis Club.
“I really enjoyed myself,” said Dunne after the visit. “It was great to see so many girls out there on court playing tennis, especially because they all had really big smiles on their faces!”
