Kvitova Drops Keys, Kerber Advances; Barty, Gauff Open Play At Cincinnati Masters

Petra Kvitova kept Madison Keys’s slide going Monday in Cincinnati, easing past the former Top 10 7-5, 6-4 in the first round Monday night.

Kvitova was broken just once and hit 28 winners in the match. The American Keys has lost her last four matches.

After a brief rain delay, French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova kept her roll going with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Daria Kasatkina. The Czech has now won 23 of her last 25 matches.

Fellow French champion Jelena Ostapenko advanced as well as did 3-time slam winner Angelique Kerber who rolled Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-2. Kerber, who made the Wimbledon semifinals, will now face Elina Svitolina on Wednesday.

Paula Badosa saved five match points in a thrilling win over Petra Martic 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(9) going 11-9 in the final set breaker.

Martic led with a break in the third having four match points on her serve. Then rains hit just before the breaker. After the 2 hour, 45 minute win, Badosa now gets second seeded Aryna Sabalenka.

Jen Brady, Alison Riske and Elise Mertens also won their openers.

Today, world No. 1 Ash Barty debuts on grandstand against Heather Watson. Coco Gauff will be on Center against Su-Wei Hsieh. Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka and Sloane Stephens are also featured.

“Physically I feel great,” Gauff said Sunday. “I would say physically from tournament to tournament I haven’t had any problems, no bad injuries, nothing. Knock on wood that I can keep that health going.

“I feel like going into the US Open I feel great. I had a good week in Montreal. I’m hoping to have a good week here.”

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