Ostapenko advances to second round in Seoul tournament

Latvia's top-ranked tennis player Aļona Ostapenko secured a win on Tuesday at the WTA 250 category tournament in Seoul, defeating Russian player Zakharova in the first round.

The victory guarantees Ostapenko a place in the second round of the tournament, where she will face another opponent.

The Seoul event belongs to the WTA calendar's "250" category, the entry-level tier of professional tournaments where players compete for ranking points and prize money. Despite the tournament's relatively modest status, Ostapenko's participation and results in such events are closely followed in Latvia, as she remains one of the country's most recognizable athletes on the world tennis stage.

Ostapenko's opponent for the second round has not yet been determined, but her successful start suggests she is playing with confidence in Seoul.