Blinkova recovers from set down to beat Sawangkaew in Cincinnati

Anna Blinkova came from a set down to defeat Mananchaya Sawangkaew 1-6 6-2 6-3 in the opening round of the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati. The Russian was overrun in the first set before her serve steadied, landing 65.1 percent of first deliveries and winning 61.1 percent of those points across the match. Sawangkaew's numbers stayed respectable throughout, with 68.5 percent of first serves in and 62.0 percent of those points won, but she could not sustain the early pressure. Blinkova struck four aces against five double faults, and her recovery earned her a place in the second round.