Charleston, SC, USA, 5 April 2017 | tennis.com.au with AAP

Anastasia Rodionova is into the second round of the WTA Tour event in Charleston after an impressive 7-6(3) 6-1 win over China’s Ying-Ying Duan.

The win is the 34-year-old Rodionova’s first WTA main draw singles victory since October 2015 when she advanced to the second round of the Hong Kong Open. Focused primarily on doubles now, Rodionova’s win against the world No.63 Duan also marked the highest-ranked opponent she had beaten in singles since August 2014.

Once she took the first set in a tiebreak, the No.669-ranked Rodionova steamrolled her way through the second, losing only four points on serve as she rattled Duan.

Rodionova, who has now won three consecutive matches after coming through qualifying, plays Italian veteran Sara Errani in the second round tomorrow.

Fellow Australian Daria Gavrilova begins her Charleston campaign with a second round showdown against American world No.38 Alison Riske tomorrow. Gavrilova, the tournament’s No.9 seed, received a first round bye after the draw was rearranged following Brit Johanna Konta’s late withdrawal.