Ajla Tomljanovic starts the Korea Open victorious despite serving problems, Priscilla Hon loses

Australian Ajla Tomljanovic has reached the second round of the WTA 500 Korea Open after a three-hour battle against a South Korean wildcard.

The 31-year-old defeated world number one Su Jeong Jang 7:6 (7:4), 4:6 and 6:3 in the last competition on Tuesday.

In her first match since her second-round exit at the US Open against Belgian veteran Elise Mertens, world number one Tomljanovic lost her serve five times in a row on the sultry night.

But in the last set she showed a good figure, winning four games in a row and securing her 4-0 lead.

“I'm happy to be through. Hopefully I'll play a little better in the next game,” she said.

The former finalist must do just that, as she will now face third-seeded Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia.

“It was tough conditions – for both of us,” Tomljanovic added. “It was about weathering the storm and staying strong in the decisive moments.”

Previously, her compatriot Priscilla Hon had been beaten 7-5, 6-4 by lucky loser Polina Kudermetova in just under two hours in their very first encounter.

The Russian, who is ranked 163rd in the world, 34 places ahead of Hon, served fewer aces and made more double faults, but converted four of her five break points, while the Australian converted two of five.

Elsewhere, British 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu celebrated a 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) triumph over American Peyton Stearns.

AAP