Semenistaja edges past Kinoshita in Sao Paulo opener

Darja Semenistaja came through a tight straight-setter against Hayu Kinoshita, 7-5 6-4, in the Round of 32 in Sao Paulo. The Latvian took the opening set only after the pair traded holds deep into it, and the margin was written on serve: Semenistaja won 69.2 percent of her first-serve points to Kinoshita's 58.3, and 56.7 percent behind her second to the Japanese player's 51.9. Semenistaja also struck five aces to three, with both women keeping their double faults down to two. It was a composed hard-court win that carried her into the next round.