Aussie Talia Gibson through to round of 16 in Japan
By David Fleming
Australia's Talia Gibson is through to the round of 16 at the Japan Open. -AAP Image
World No.42 Talia Gibson has continued her recent run of good form, beating Britain's Harriet Dart in straight sets at the Japan Open.
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The Australian 22-year-old, the fourth seed at the WTA 250-level hardcourt event in Osaka, was pushed all the way by the 84th-ranked Brit, before winning 7-5 7-6 (8-6) on Monday.
In a match littered with nine service breaks, Gibson held her nerve to finish off her 30-year-old opponent in the second-set tiebreak.
The win set up a round of 16 showdown against world No.76 Sinja Kraus.
It's been an up-and-down fortnight for Gibson, who had a runner-up finish at the recent Singapore Open, before losing her first match at last week's China Open.Â
Gibson lost her maiden WTA Tour final last month to Canadian Leylah Fernandez in Singapore.
Australian teenager Emerson Jones has the chance to join Gibson in the next round when she takes on No.1 seed Ann Li on Tuesday.
Queenslander Kimberly Birrell, the No.3 seed, faces world No.119 Kayla Day.
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