Osaka, Muguruza Fall At Madrid Masters, Raducanu Wins; Halep v Gauff Mon.
The upsets continued at the Madrid Masters, with mixed emotions among the home Spaniards.
Garbine Muguruza’s hopes for a first title in Madrid faded as she suffered the shock of the day going down to Anhelina Kalinina winning just three games 6-3, 6-0.
“I didn’t expect the score was going to be like this,” Kalinina said after her first Top 10 win. “I was just very focused, even during the match I was not thinking about the score. In the first set I felt a little bit of pressure – it was very tough with a few balls, but when I closed the set I felt much more confident.
“I’m getting much more matches than in previous years, so I’m getting a lot more experience. The more you play with these top players, the more you feel you are at home. Last year I was playing mostly ITF tournaments so for me, it was important to get to the Top 100.”
Muguruza sought medical treatment for a right calf issue, but wasn’t hampered. She hasn’t made a semifinal this year and just one quarterfinal. Her last clay final was her 2016 French title!
Spain did get a win with Sara Sorribes Tormo who knocked out Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-1. Osaka was dealing with a taped left calf which limited her movement.
“I think I have played much better today than the other time,” said Sorribes Tormo who is now 2-0 against Osaka on clay.
“I have been able to play the balls much longer, and in some moments, I didn’t allow her to step into the court, whereas last time I think that she committed more unforced errors… I think today I have played really well.”
Sorribes Tormo will now face Daria Kasatkina who bundled out French semifinalist Maria Sakkari 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. She is now 3-0 against the Greek.
“The beginning was a bit shaky,” Kasatkina said. “In the end of the first set, I found my game and the ways to turn this match around. The score is not showing exactly how the match was going, but I’m happy that I could close the match and not spend a lot of time on the court.”
US Open champion Emma Raducanu looked good in an easy win over Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-1. She is now 5-2 on clay.
“I’m definitely very happy with my performance today. Marta is a great opponent, we played several times in the juniors and then once last year,” said Raducanu.
“I knew it was always going to be a really tough battle so I went out there trying to be really aggressive and it definitely paid off.”
Up next on Tuesday will be Kalinina.
Bianca Andreescu performance routing American Danielle Collins 6-1, 6-1. She’ll get Jessica Pegula.
“I knew I had to put on a very good performance because she’s been doing very well recently; I did not expect for it to go like that at all. But I stuck to my gameplan and it worked,” Andreescu said.
“What I did well today is, I stayed in the present moment and told myself it’s not over til it’s over, even at 6-1, 4-1. She started hitting the ball harder and sometimes it would go in, sometimes it wouldn’t. But what she did was very smart because that in turn put pressure on me. If I didn’t hold my ground she probably would’ve gotten back into the match. It’s quite a big court, so it’s easy to step back. But I had that mentality of staying in the court.”
Jil Teichmann and Elena Rybakina also set a third round meeting.
Tomorrow, the third round gets underway with 2-time champion Simona Halep against Coco Gauff who she has never lost to. Belinda Bencic battles Ons Jabeur in a rematch of their Charleston final.
Victoria Azarenka also takes on Amanda Anisimova.
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