Kerber, Half of WTA Rome Seeds Lose in Another Massive Exodus

by Jeremy Davis | May 11th, 2016, 11:58 pm
  • 23 Comments

World No. 2 Angie Kerber led a tremendous seeded exit on Wednesday at Rome, losing in the second round to Canadian Genie Bouchard 6-1, 5-7, 7-5.
ADHEREL
“I did feel like I was playing better tennis today, especially at the beginning,” Bouchard said. “That’s how I want to play. That gives me confidence knowing I can play that way against one of the best players in the world.”

Kerber, “one of the best players in the world,” since winning the Australian Open has lost her opening rounds at Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome.

Other second-round losers were No. 4 Victoria Azarenka upset by Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 6-2; No. 5 Petra Kvitova stopped by Madison Keys 6-3, 6-4; No. 6 Simona Halep tripped by Daria Gavrilova 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; No. 7 Roberta Vinci beat by Johanna Konta 6-0, 6-4; No. 10 Lucie Safarova ousted by Misaki Doi 6-3, 7-5; No. 12 Venus Williams stalling out against Timea Babos 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-4; and American qualifier Christina McHale shocking former No. 1 and No. 13 seed Ana Ivanovic 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1.


Whew.

“The first couple of years were very difficult for me [on clay],” said Keys, who will next meet the Venus Williams-killer Babos after topping Kvitova. “I never really played on red clay growing up. I think every year is a little more experience, and I’m feeling more comfortable.”

Halep bemoaned the conditions after losing to Gavrilova, who will next face No. 9 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who defeated Sam Stosur 6-4, 6-4.

“Maybe if it wouldn’t rain, maybe I would have played better,” Halep said. “But that’s it. I cannot change anything. If it’s raining, it’s raining. If I lose, you lose. I won a lot of matches last week, so I don’t give up now that I lost one match.”

Begu downed an injured Azarenka, and will next meet Russian Daria Kasatkina, who beat qualifier Mariana Duque-Marino 6-2, 6-2.

“I’ve always said that clay is my favorite surface,” Begu said. “I feel really good on it and especially these two tournaments are really special for me. I feel good and that’s probably why I have such good results. I’m really confident on this surface.”

Some of the few seeded winners on the day were No. 3 Garbine Muguruza rolling Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 6-0, and No. 11 Timea Bacsinszky beat Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-4.

Matches to look for on Thursday in Rome are (1) Serena Williams vs. (Q) Christina McHale, (8) Suarez Navarro vs. (11) Bacsinszky, and (9) Kuznetsova vs. Gavrilova.


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23 Comments for Kerber, Half of WTA Rome Seeds Lose in Another Massive Exodus

Margot Says:

Boo! All my favourite players are out so, looking round for a couple of bandwagons to hop onto…….Go Keys! Go Gavrilova!


Wog Boy Says:

Gavrilova..? Hmm, little bit too hysterical for my liking..


Van Persie Says:

Not in the mood to hop into a bandwagon of WTA today. Will take the cab for Misaki Doi. Go Misaki!


Van Persie Says:

And good luck to Irina!


danica Says:

I like Madison Keys very much. Go Madison!! ;)
Gavrilova goes on my nerves. :/


Margot Says:

They are complete opposites aren’t they Danica? But I was very impressed by the way Gavrilova played against the lovely Halep. She was in no mood to take prisoners.
BTW Is Laura what’s her name, fantastic German player, long knocked out?


danica Says:

Gavrilova is indeed talented and a great player. I think Halep lost for the same reason Novak gave such lackluster performance – fatigue and different conditions after about a day of rest. Daria just seems like plugged in to an electrical circuit :). I couldn’t watch Bartoli for the similar reason. My apologies to their fans.


Van Persie Says:

Congrats to Irina! Quarters in Madrid last week …hope she will go a step or more further in Rome


J-Kath Says:

Margot

Johanna is still in. See her with Andy – mixed doubles at Rio???


Noonen Says:

Now that Federer lost to Thiem in Rome I suppose he will say it was because he wasn’t well. He certainly looked well when he played the young boy from Germany.


Margot Says:

RZ: Saw that. Took out Italian top player too! Crowd’ll be booing her next time. Dunno about partnering Andy at Rio. Think Heather might have something to say about that.


jalep Says:

I’m lost! None of my favorites are IN. And the teenage young guns are OUT. Not too surprisingly.

Thiem! Very proud of him. But respect to Fed (imo).


J-Kath Says:

Doubt Andy will go for Heather…anyway we’ll have a say in it, —see other thread.


jalep Says:

Yep looking over who is left – I don’t know. I’ve only watched Doi once. Have to watch and see. Dasha is hyper – but it doesn’t annoy me. Babos, Bacsinszky, Begu, Bouchard – pick a B-name.


RZ Says:

Second time in 2 days someone has confused me and J-Kath. Fortunately J-Kath and I get along. :-)

On the GB mixed doubles front, I think Andy would play with Heather, as they’ve played together at Hopman Cup. Jo may possibly have a chance to play with Jamie depending on how big the draw is for the mixed.


Margot Says:

Lol RZ, it’s because people can’t tell Andy fans apart…;)


J-Kath Says:

Hiya RZ + Margot

It’s not that there are so many Andy fans that people get confused.!!!!!! Ah well.

PS: Reason I think Andy will by-pass Heather, he chose Robson over her at Wimbledon and Heather was pissed-off. Yes, he did pick Heather later, but they don’t really play well together.
He’d be better with Johana even though she’s just gone out.
Accept it is only my opinion…


Van Persie Says:

Sorry for Johanna’s fans, but I have to congratulate the tiny but amazing Misaki. I love her :)


Okiegal Says:

J-Kath when it comes to Andy, you and your counter part, Margot are generally spot on….lol


RZ Says:

@J-Kath – Andy chose Laura because he had played with her at Hopman Cup and also he liked that she was a lefty. It’s possible that he won’t play mixed doubles as he and Jamie have a real chance at getting a men’s medal.


RZ Says:

@VP – I like Misaki Doi too. I always support the players who are my height or shorter.


Van Persie Says:

RZ, I should root tomorrow for Irina, but somehow, I am hoping, that Doi wins it…


Van Persie Says:

Amazing performance for Misaki: she beat Cornet, Safarova and Konta. WOW

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