Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, 2nd WTA, managed a three-set victory, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 against Alison Riske, on Saturday, in the inaugural round of the WTA Premier Mandatory tournament in Beijing, with total prizes of USD 6,381,679.
Halep (26), the second favourite of the competition, succeeded to win in two hours and 13 minutes in front of the 27-year-old American, 51st WTA.
Halep secured a cheque of USD 34,744 and 65 WTA points, and will play in the second round against the winner of the match between Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) and Magdalena Rybarikova (Slovakia). At last year’s China Open, Halep was defeated in the last sixteen round.
Also on Saturday, Sorana Cîrstea defeated the German Mona Barthel in the first round 7-6 (4), 6-1. Monica Niculescu will play against British Johanna Konta, 6th WTA.