Kimberly Birrell handled a tricky opener well, beating Tamara Zidansek 7-6(2), 6-4 to start her week in Seoul. The second seed had to survive a tight first set against an opponent who defends for a living, and she found the tiebreak when it mattered.
Ye-Xin Ma had a stranger route through. The Chinese qualifier dropped the opening set to Emerson Jones 3-6 before completely flipping the match to win 6-0, 6-2. That is an unusual scoreline and it says something about both players. Ma found a level in the second and third sets that she had not shown in the first, and she is playing with nothing to lose.
Birrell's advantage is her serve and her willingness to come forward. On the outdoor courts at Olympic Park the ball does not sit up much, which rewards players who take it early rather than grind from three metres behind the baseline. That is Birrell rather than Ma.
The risk is a repeat of the slow start that nearly cost her against Zidansek.
Birrell in straight sets, with the first one close.