Tokyo: Olympic champion Monica Puig thrashed American Varvara Lepchenko 6-0, 6-3 at the Pan Pacific Open yesterday, her first victory since winning gold in Rio. "A win is a win for me," shrugged the World No. 33 after her first-round victory in rainy Tokyo.

"I'm just trying to finish the season strong and play some good tennis," added Puig, who crashed out of the US Open in the first round. "The whole ride from the Olympics has been very crazy and very emotional so it feels good to settle down and play some good tennis again."