Sports
LAST year’s runner-up Marketa Vondrousova is out of the 2020 French Open after losing 6-1 6-2 to Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the first round.
Czech Vondrousova, 21, lost to the 19-year-old, ranked 54th in the world, in a match that lasted only 63 minutes.
But there were wins for third seed Elina Svitolina, fifth seed Kiki Bertens and seventh seed Petra Kvitova.
Spain’s 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza battled through with a 7-5 4-6 8-6 win against Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek.
However, three other notable names – 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, three-time major winner Angelique Kerber and 2018 semi-finalist Madison Keys – suffered first-round defeats.
Kuznetsova, the 28th seed, lost 1-6 6-1 1-6 against fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, while German 18th seed Kerber was beaten 6-3 6-3 by Slovenian teenager Kaja Juvan.
It was also a straight-set exit for American 12th seed Keys, losing 6-3 7-6 (7-2) to Zhang Shuai of China.
Hopes of home upset dashed as Kvitova progresses
Kvitova, 30, a semi-finalist in 2012, beat France’s Oceane Dodin 6-3 7-5 after breaking her serve in the eighth game of the first set and the 11th game of the second.
A maximum of 1,000 fans were allowed into the stadium, but they did not witness a home victory as 23-year-old Dodin, ranked 117th in the world, was unable to cause an upset.
“I think we are very glad and very pleased, honestly, that we are here and we can play, even with few spectators,” said Kvitova.
“I really miss them, so it’s really nice that they could come. I know it’s not full, but it’s still better than nothing, for sure.”
Meanwhile, Bertens recovered from a poor start against Ukrainian French Open debutant Katarina Zavatska to win 2-6 6-2 6-0.
Dutchwoman Bertens, another former semi-finalist, will play 2012 runner-up Sara Errani in the next round after the Italian qualifier beat Olympic champion Monica Puig of Puerto Rico 6-2 6-1.
Zavatska, 20, appeared close to tears when she snapped a string for the third time – which left her having to borrow a racquet from her coach.
Ukrainian Svitolina is hoping to make the first Grand Slam final of her career and she made a winning start with a 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 triumph against Varvara Gracheva of Russia.
Unseeded American Christina McHale moved into the second round thanks to a 6-2 6-4 success over Karolina Muchova, the 22nd seed from the Czech Republic.
BBC Sport
– Sept. 29, 2020 @ 08:34 GMT /
Tags: Elina Svitolina & Garbine Muguruza through Marketa Vondrousova out
