Taipei Times
Date: Jan 30, 2019 
By: Dave Carroll  /  Staff reporter

Taiwanese third seed Hsieh Su-wei on Monday fell to a shock 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) defeat to

Russia’s Maria Sharapova returns to Daria Gavrilova of Australia in their Saint Petersburg Ladies Trophy first-round match at the Sibur Arena in Russia on Monday.
Photo: AFP

Monica Niculescu in the first round of the Thailand Open in Hua Hin.

The 100th-ranked Romanian saved 10 of 15 break points and converted six of 13 to wrap up the victory in 2 hours, 6 minutes and set up a second-round clash with Poland’s Magda Linette, who defeated Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.

“I’m happy that I could play this kind of game. I knew Su-wei is going to be very good … and I knew she’s a very interesting opponent, mixing the game, like me,” Niculescu said after the match. “I had to run a lot, fight a lot and mix it up, and I think I did that. I’m happy that I could finish in two, because in the end I was losing a little bit of energy, so I’m happy that I could finish it in the tiebreak.”    [FULL  STORY]