MASON, Ohio (AP) — Nakasalba sina Rafael Nadal at Karolina Pliskova — ang No. 1 seeds sa Western & Southern Open — sa araw na nanalasa ang mga dehado nitong Huwebes.
Ginapi ni Nadal si Richard Gasquet, 6-3, 6-4, habang nanganilangan lamang si Pliskova ng 67 minuto para pabagsakin si Natalia Vikhlyanseva, 6-2, 6-3.
“Obviously, I didn’t know my opponent, so I don’t think it was the best match,” pahayag ni Pliskova. “But as always, first rounds are not the best.”
Hindi naman nakaiwas sa pagkasilat ang ilang seeded player tulad ni Venus Williams, nabigo kay Ashleigh Barty; 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.
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Kasalukuyang ranked No. 48 si Barty sa ATP tour, hindi pa siya nakakapasok sa Top 10 player.
Sumabak si Williams sa unang pagkakataon mula nang makausad sa Finals ng Australian Open sa Wimbledon. Siya ay edad 37.
“I’m going to take a break,” sambit ni Williams patungkol sa maagang pagkasibak a torneo. “Just have a rest and just go big. That’s my plan.”
Naunsiyami rin ang kampanya ni No. 3 Angelique Kerber kay Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (11), sa larong umabot sa dalawang oras sa 39 minuto.
“The third set was a completely up-and-down set,” pahatag ni Kerber.
Nagtamo ng pulikat si Makarova sa tiebreaker, sapat para maipahinga ng konti.
“I had the match points, and then of course with the nerves, it kind of felt even more. It came back again during the tiebreak because it was great, long points and both of us running and running” aniya.
