The top-seeded Dayana Yastremska (Ukraine) was knocked out at the start of the WTA 250 Thailand Open in Hua Hin after losing to Mai Hontama (Japan) by 0-2 (6:7, 5:7) in 2:17 hours.
The Japanese tennis player started the match strongly and achieved a break of the serve of her opponent already in the third game and subsequently took a lead of 3:1. Dayana Yastremska succeeded to equalize to 3:3 and both exchanged a break for 4:4. Both players won their serve games and the set entered into a tiebreak, which Mai Hontama won by 7-4.
The second set was also very tough for both players with Dayana Yastremska taking a lead with an early break for 2:0, but Mai Hontama returned the break and equalized to 3:3. The Ukrainian played made another break for 5:4 and served to equalize the sets, but her opponent rebreak again for 5:5. Mai Hontama won her serve game and Dayana Yastremska served to stay in the match, but made a terrible mistakes for 0-40 to give three break and match points for her opponent. Mai Hontama won already the first match point and closed the set at 7:5.
The next opponent of Mai Hontama will be Lanlana Tararudee (Thailand), who eliminated her compatriot Thasaporn Naklo after 2-0 (6:0, 6:1).
Xinyu Gao (China) also qualified for the second round of the WTA 250 Thailand Open in Hua Hin tournament after defeating her compatriot Sijia Wei by 2-0 (6:3, 6:2). Meanwhile, Nadia Podoroska (Argentina) eliminated Ksenia Laskutova (Russia) after 2-0 (6:1, 6:0).
