Rakhimova routs Birrell 6-2 6-2 in Cincinnati first round

Kamilla Rakhimova needed just two lopsided sets to move past Kimberly Birrell 6-2 6-2 in the opening round of the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati. Neither player found much rhythm on first serve, with Rakhimova landing 52.5 percent and Birrell 53.6, but the difference came behind it: the Uzbek won 71 percent of her first-serve points to the Australian's 60, and 42.9 percent of her second-serve points against Birrell's 30.8. Birrell's nine double faults, three more than Rakhimova's six, kept handing back the initiative. It was a clean, efficient start to Rakhimova's tournament.