Gavrilova out of first round in Tokyo

Australian Daria Gavrilova has made an early exit from the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, bundled out in the first round by Magda Linette.

The world No.21 endured a topsy-turvy afternoon, going down 2-6 6-0 7-6 (7-3) to the 74th ranked Pole.

The qualifier’s reward is a round of 16 match-up with Karolina Pliskova, the second seed who enjoyed a first-up bye.

In other matches fifth-seeded Dominika Cibulkova dispatched Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3 6-3 to book her spot in the second-round.

Cibulkova has momentum after posting her best result of the season when reaching the final of the Connecticut Open in August.

In Tokyo, she raced 5-1 ahead. Suarez Navarro broke in a seventh game that contained four deuces, and briefly threatened to fight her way back.

Last year’s WTA Finals champion, Cibulkova broke in the third game of the second set, and again to love in the final game.

She next plays either Slovakian compatriot Jana Cepelova or Czech player Katerina Siniakova.

Earlier, Caroline Garcia – seeded following the withdrawal of virus-hit Agnieszka Radwanska – beat lucky loser Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-4 6-3.

Garcia next meets home-crowd favourite Kurumi Nara, handed a wildcard entry.

Caroline Garcia and Monica Puig were among the other first round winners.

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