SAINT PETERSBURG :Â Top-seeded Simona Halep won her first match since an opening-round exit at the Australian Open, beating Ana Konjuh 6-4, 7-6 (2) at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
The fourth-ranked Romanian, who was broken three times, will next face Natalia Vikhlyantseva. The Russian wild-card entry defeated eighth-seeded Daria Kasatkina 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Playing in her home city for the first time, third-seeded veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova swept aside Moscow-born Australian Daria Gavrilova, winning 6-1, 6-3.
That sets up a quarterfinal against Yulia Putintseva, who earlier beat Annika Beck 6-4, 6-0.
Also, fifth-seeded Elena Vesnina of Russia beat Olympic doubles partner Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-1. Vesnina and Makarova won a gold medal in Rio de Janeiro.
Vesnina will face Alize Cornet in the second round.
Yulia Putintseva advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Annika Beck 6-4, 6-0. She will next face either third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova or Daria Gavrilova.
