The ASB Classic kicked off its proceedings, and the first match of the day was between WTA Rising Star Jelena Ostapenko and Sweden’s Johanna Larsson. Ostapenko played brilliantly throughout 2015, playing her way into the top 100. She continued that fine form with a victory over Larsson in straight sets. Svetlana Kuznetsova faced off against Mona Barthel after Ostapenko’s match. The German retired down a set.

Jelena Ostapenko - Johanna Larsson

The 18-year-old played brilliantly in the opening set, dominating on her serve. Despite struggling to get her first serve in often, 43 percent first serve percentage, she won 64 percent of those points. Larsson had two looks to break in the third game of the match but could not convert, and she would go onto rue those missed chances later on.

In the following game, the Latvian broke for a 3-1 lead and did not look back. She broke again in the sixth game before holding to take the opening set 6-1.

The second set was much more tightly contested with Larsson finally figuring out how to get some first serves in. From 44 percent of first serves in to 62 percent. Ostapenko looked to pull away after breaking at 2-1, but Larsson struck right back before the Latvian broke again for a 3-2 lead. The 18-year-old saved two break points to extend the lead for 4-2 but was broken when serving for the match at 5-4 up. Ostapenko kept her cool though, breaking right back and then closing the match out 6-1, 7-5.

The service stats describe this match perfectly. Overall, the Latvian teen won 75 percent of her first serve points and 48 percent of her second serve points. You compare that to Larsson's numbers which were 56 and 39 percent respectively. Ostapenko will play the winner of the match between second-seeded Ana Ivanovic and British qualifier Naomi Broady. 

Svetlana Kuznetsova - Mona Barthel

The fourth-seeded Russian dominated the lone set that these two played, using her two-handed backhand to overpower Barthel. A break in the opening game of the match set the tone, and add to it, another break in the seventh game of the set to go up 5-2. The Russian closed out the the set 6-2. The two continued to play until the German called for the trainer at one apiece in the second.

It was a mystery to why Barthel called the trainer since it looked like that she didn't have a problem. Some speculated that it was a knee problem, but she looked to be moving without any problems. After the visit from the trainer, she subsequently retired citing sickness. 

Kuznetsova will face the winner of the match between Austrlan qualifier Tamira Paszek and Italian wildcard Francesca Schiavone