Turin, April 2 (LaPresse) – Lucia Bronzetti was eliminated in the first round of the "Credit One Charleston Open" (WTA 500 – prize money of $1,064,510), which is being held on the green clay courts of Charleston, South Carolina. The 26-year-old from Villa Verucchio, ranked No. 60 in the WTA, lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 after a battle lasting over two and a half hours against China's Shuai Zhang, ranked No. 176 (though she had been close to the top 20 in January two years ago), who came through the qualifiers. Despite a comeback from 3-5 in the second set (which she won 7-5) and from 0-4 in the deciding set, Bronzetti was unable to clinch the victory. Zhang will now face Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva, ranked No. 23 and the 10th seed, in the second round (the top 16 seeds have all received a first-round bye). Leading the seeding is American Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 4 in the WTA, who recently reached the final of the WTA 1000 in Miami (losing to Aryna Sabalenka).
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