ASB Classic: First quarter-finalists found as Iva Jovic, Wang Xinyu, Francesca Jones and Sofia Costoulas progress

The seeds have settled in Auckland.

In the first round of the women’s ASB Classic, No 3 seed Iva Jovic and No 7 Wang Xinyu took some time to find their footing. Both fell a set behind in their respective matches before comeback wins put them into the next round.

Their second appearances in the tournament were a bit smoother.

Opening the evening session on centre court, Chinese player Wang triumphed in a testing match against Mexican Renata Zarazua, with a 7-5, 6-4 straight-sets win.

“It was pretty different conditions today and two days ago when I played; it’s not as hot but it’s pretty windy right now so I’m just happy with how I stayed in every point, every serve, every return and really happy to get through to the quarter-finals,” Wang told Sky Sport.

In a match where both players had to work for their points, it took until the ninth game of the first set for someone to capitalise on a break point opportunity.

Until that point, Zarazua had been unsuccessful with three chances, while Wang had not yet earned one. But it was the Chinese player who struck first; a Zarazua double fault gifting her opponent the game and a chance to serve out the set.

But the Mexican was undeterred and continued to test Wang’s serve. While she wasn’t able to cash in on three break points earlier, she kept the set alive with a break to love.

The set didn’t stay on serve for long, though, as Wang again broke Zarazua’s serve to have another opportunity to clinch the set.

She made no mistake this time, taking the 1-0 lead after 58 minutes.

Wang continued in that fashion during the second set, breaking Zarazua’s opening service game. The pair then traded breaks in the eighth and ninth games of the set, which again gave Wang the chance to serve the set out at 5-4.

She did so, saving a break point before claiming her win at the second time of asking.

She joins Jovic as the first seeded players to make the quarter-finals, with the American beating Czech player Sara Bejlek in straight sets, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.

They were joined by Britain’s Francesca Jones who, after toppling second-seed Emma Navarro in round one, had to come back from a set down in her second-round match against Austrian qualifier Sinja Kraus. The Brit ultimately won 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 to progress.

Belgian qualifier Sofia Costoulas secured the final spot in the quarter-finals on her side of the draw in the day’s final match in emphatic fashion with a 6-2 6-0 win over fellow qualifier Kaitlin Quevedo of Spain.

Costoulas will meet Jovic in the final eight, while Wang and Jones will play for a spot in the semi-finals.

The second half of the quarter-finals will be filled out by Thursday’s slate, when No 1 seed Elina Svitolina is back in action, against British qualifier Katie Boulter, as well as fourth and fifth seeds Alexandra Eala and Magda Linette.

Thursday centre court schedule

Not before 1pm: Petra Marcinko (CRO) v [4] Alexandra Eala (PHI)

[5] Magda Linette (POL) v Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA)

Not before 6pm: [1] Elina Svitolina (UKR) v [WC] Katie Boulter (GBR)

Ella Seidel (GER) v Sonay Kartal (GBR)

A doubles semi-final between Caty McNally (USA) / Janice Tjen (INA) and [2] Guo Hanyu (CHN) / Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) was scheduled to start the day, but Guo and Mladenovic have won in a walkover.

Grandstand schedule

After suitable rest, not before 3pm: Jesika Maleckova (CZE) / Renata Zarazua (MEX) v Alexandra Eala (PHI) / Iva Jovic (USA)

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.