World number 2 Simona Halep crashed to a shock 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 defeat to France’s Alize Cornet, whilst Eugenie Bouchard’s slump continued in the first round of the Madrid Open on Sunday. However, there were no such problems for world number one Serena Williams or defending champion Maria Sharapova who both eased through in straight sets.
Halep reached the final in the Spanish capital last year, but looked out of sorts as a double fault handed Cornet the opening set in a tie-break. What is more, the Romanian’s serve crumbled when serving to stay in the match in the second as Cornet wrapped up victory in just under two hours on court.
“It went great for me – I played really amazing on the centre court,” said a delighted Cornet.
“The first set was really tight and I saved a set point by doing an amazing backhand down the line.
“The second was tight as well. The score doesn’t really mean anything and I had to be focused to the end. I was a bit stressed because I was about to beat the world number two, but finally it was just a big relief and I’m really proud of myself.”
Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard’s alarming loss of form continued as she lost a 6th consecutive match to the Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova. Bouchard looked to be set for a morale-boosting win as she cruised through the first set 6-0, but Strycova stormed back to win the next two sets 6-3.
Williams moved to 21-0 on the year with a 6-0, 6-1 destruction of fellow compatriot Madison Brengle in under an hour. The 19-time Grand Slam champion will face fellow American Sloane Stephens in round 2.
“My preparation wasn’t as great as I wanted it to be, but it’s ok,” said Williams.
“I definitely feel I know what to do more on the clay and being ready mentally and being ready for longer points, longer matches.”
Sharapova showed no signs of her recent struggles with form and fitness as she beat Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky 6-2, 6-3.
Halep’s exit could be a big boost for Sharapova had been set to meet the Romanian in the last four had both women made it that far.
The Russian dominated the Bacsinszky serve in the 1st set to break 3 times and then depended on her own in the second. One break in the eighth game was enough to set up a second round clash with Britain’s Heather Watson or Colombian Mariana Duque-Marino.
Fourth seed Petra Kvitova had to come from a set down to see off Belarus’s Olga Govortsova 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Caroline Wozniacki continued her encouraging form of late with a comfortable 6-3, 6-0 win over Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova.
The Dane’s conqueror in the final in Stuttgart last weekend, Angelique Kerber, suffered an early exit, though, as the German lost out 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to former US Open champion Samantha Stosur.
There was also plenty for the home fans to cheer as 10th seed Carla Suarez Navarro and world number 20 Garbine Muguruza booked their places in the second round with straight sets wins over Zarina Diyas and Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor respectively.
Madrid Open: Williams and Sharapova advance
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