INJURY put an end to the much-anticipated clash between No.1 seed Risa Ozaki and young Australian star Ash Barty at the Bendigo International on Wednesday.
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Barty was forced to withdraw after suffering an arm injury in the warm-up, ending her campaign before it began.
However, Barty’s disappointment proved a lucky break for American Shelby Talcott, who earned a crack at Japan’s Ozaki as a “lucky loser” from qualifying.
Ozaki – a two-time runner-up in Bendigo – cruised through to the second round with a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 victory in 69 minutes.
Former winner Eri Hozumi of Japan, the No.5 seed, is also through to the second round after dispatching Australian Olivia Rogowska.
Hozumi won 6-4, 6-3 in 94 minutes.
In what was the longest game of round one, No.4 seed Arina Rodionova recovered from a poor start to outlast teenager Oliva Tjandramulia in a 134-minute three-set all-Australian contest.
Rodionova was on the backfoot early when she lost the first set 6-1.
But Rodionova, who won the tournament in 2012, fought back valiantly to win the second and third sets 7-5, 7-5.
Rodionova was among three Australian winners on Wednesday.
Also advancing to round two were Tammi Patterson, who defeated Thailand’s Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 6-4, 7-5, while wildcard Maddison Inglis proved too good for No.7 seed Shuko Aoyama 7-5, 6-2 in a major upset.
Shuko was among three seeded players to be defeated on Wednesday.
No.8 seed Jennifer Elie fell 6-4, 6-3 to Katarzyna Kawa, and No.6 seed Jana Fett squandered a solid start against Katy Dunne to be beaten 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.
It was a safe passage through to the second round for No.2 seed Asia Muhammed, who ousted Italian qualifier Georgia Brescia 6-4, 6-1, and No.3 seed Julia Glushko was a 6-4, 6-4 victor over qualifier Mariana Zakarlyuk.
Also through to round two is Abigail Tere-Apisah, who won a battle of two qualifiers with her 6-2, 7-5 victory over Yuki Kristina Chiang.
Thursday’s round two singles schedule:
Court 1 – 10am: Katy Dunne v Destanee Aiava. Not before 11am: Katarzyna Kawa v Tammi Patterson. Not before 12:30pm: Naiktha Bains v Maddison Inglis.
Court 2 – 10am: Lizette Cabrera v Eri Hozumi (5). Not before 11am: Varatchaya Wongteanchai v Arina Rodionova (4). Not before 12.30pm: Julia Glushko (3) v Abigail Tere-Apisah.
Court 6 – 10am: Risa Ozaki (1) v Jaimee Fourlis.
Doubles quarter-finals will be played from 2pm.
