Tennis: Mixed bag for Kiwis on opening day at ASB Classic

Erin Routliffe. Photo / Photosport

Kiwi tennis' female number one Paige Hourigan may not have got a wildcard into the singles main draw at the ASB Classic, but she has moved into the second round in the doubles.

Hourigan and American partner Taylor Townsend overcame the all-Kiwi pairing of Valentina Ivanov and Elys Ventura, winning 6-1, 7-5 in just over an hour to cap off the opening day in Auckland.

Hourigan is ranked 655th in the world in doubles, but the 21-year-old should see that significantly improve after her and Townsend received arguably the best possible draw against the inexperienced Kiwi duo.

Hourigan is the last New Zealander left in the Classic, and will play the winner of tomorrow's clash which sees Aussie pair Monique Adamczak and Jessica Moore take on third seeded Americans Kaitlyn Christian and Asia Muhammad.

Tomorrow will be a bumper day of action at Stanley Street, with seven of the top eight seeds in action, including a much-anticipated first round clash between Grand Slam champions Victoria Azarenka and Venus Williams.

7.15pm: Erin Routliffe has been knocked out of the doubles at the ASB Classic, but there will be at least one Kiwi representative in the second round.

Routliffe and Chilean partner Alexa Guarachi couldn't follow up their stunning first set victory over Julia Goerges and Timea Babos, losing their way and going down 4-6, 6-1, 10-6.

However, Kiwi singles number one Paige Hourigan is set to move into the second round, with Hourigan and American partner Taylor Townsend currently leading the Kiwi pair of Valentina Ivanov and Elys Ventura in their first round encounter.

Hourigan and Townsend took the first set 6-1, and the matchup ensured that at least one New Zealand player will make the second round at the Classic.

6.40pm: Kiwi tennis prospect Erin Routliffe and partner Alexa Guarachi have made a stunning start to their doubles campaign at the ASB Classic.

Routliffe and Guarachi have won the opening set against Julia Goerges and Timea Babos, winning 6-4. The pair broke serve to go up 5-3, and while they missed a chance to initially close out the set with several unforced errors, they made no mistake on their second opportunity, putting themselves in with a chance for the upset of the day.

5.50pm: Eugenie Bouchard has advanced into the second round of the ASB Classic.

The popular Canadian was too good for Madison Brengle, winning 6-3, 6-3 in just over an hour on centre court.

Brengle had a few moments, but Bouchard was too powerful, having a superior serve, and despite some unforced errors, will move on to the second round where she'll take on the winner of the clash between Alison van Uytvanck and qualifier Bibiane Schoofs.

Elsewhere, Viktoria Kuzmova moved into the second round with a victory over Tamara Zidansek.

Kiwi Erin Routliffe and doubles partner Alexa Guarachi are next on centre court against defending singles champion Julia Goerges and Timea Babos.

5.10pm: Eugenie Bouchard has easily taken the first set of her opening match at the ASB Classic.

The matchup between the world number 87 and 88 has been far more lopsided than the rankings would suggest, with Bouchard taking the opening set 6-3 as Brengle offered little resistance.

Bouchard led 3-0 early, and while Brengle took one break back, that was all she could muster as Bouchard wrapped up the set and looked on track to advance to the next round.

4.20pm: Olympic champion Monica Puig is the first player into the second round at the ASB Classic. Puig swept aside American wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3, 6-2 in 74 minutes, with the world number 350 and doubles specialist no match for Puig.

Puig will face the winner of the clash between Su-Wei Hsieh and Polona Hercog in the second round.

2017 champion Lauren Davis has also advanced to the second round. Needing a wildcard to play in the tournament after a poor 2018 season, Davis was too good for Spain's Lara Arruabarrena, winning 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 22 minutes on court, and will play the winner of the glamour clash between Victoria Azarenka and Venus Williams.

Eugenie Bouchard is up now on centre court, against American Madison Brengle, best known for taking down Serena Williams in Auckland in 2017.

3.35pm: Monica Puig has taken the first set of the ASB Classic, overcoming some early resitance from Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

In what was expected to be a mismatch, Mattek-Sands fought early, breaking back after Puig had earlier broken her serve, but Puig broke again to go up 4-3, and cruised from there to take the first set 6-3.

On the grandstand court, former champion Lauren Davis is underway against Spain's Lara Arruabarrena.

3.00pm: The ASB Classic is back for another year, and some big names are headlining the opening day of the women's tournament.

Olympic singles champion Monica Puig is the first player on centre court, with the world number 53 taking on American wildcard and Olympic mixed doubles champion Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Puig has visited Auckland on five occasions, making the quarter-finals once. She lost to eventual champion Julia Georges in the first round last year, in a three-setter that ended at 1.21am.

Mattek-Sands is a doubles specialist ranked 350 in the world in singles, who last played in the singles draw in Auckland in 2016. She has won five Grand Slam doubles titles, and three mixed doubles titles, as well as an Olympic mixed doubles title with Jack Sock.

After the Olympic champions clash, star attraction Eugenie Bouchard will take centre stage, against American Madson Brengle.