Elina Svitolina, Francesca Schiavone earn straight-set wins to reach 2nd round in Linz
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Elina Svitolina and Francesca Schiavone earned straight-sets wins Monday to reach the second round of the Generali Ladies.
The 44th-ranked Svitolina defeated Mona Barthel 6-2, 7-5 after the German double-faulted eight times and dropped five service games.
Schiavone hit four aces in beating Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 6-2.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The top-seeded player in Linz is ninth-ranked Angelique Kerber, who was given a late wildcard entry to replace Petra Kvitova after the former Wimbledon champion pulled out with a back injury.