Cincinnati Open: Top seeds Pliskova & Sofia Kenin knocked out

Alize Cornet, who winged through to the last 16 of the WTA Premier tournament knocked out the second seed Sofia Kenin in straight sets. The Australian Open champion was a notable casualty at the opener. This was further coupled as Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova, ranked 41st in the world, crashed the World No.3 Pliskova of Czech Republic by 7-5, 6-4 in their second-round clash.

Kenin’s preparations for the impending US Open were squandered following her 6-1, 7-6 (9-7) defeat to Cornet. After the topple, Kenin was off the pace early into the second round as Frenchwoman Cornet raced out to a 5-0 lead in the opening set. However, she managed to avoid a bagel against Cornet, who saved a break point en route to serving out the set.

The maiden grand slam crown winner at Melbourne Park in January steadily aimed at a tie-break in the second set. But, all in vain as Cornet took over entirely after one hour, 43 minutes.

“Somehow I let it go a little bit, and I got really tight, so I never thought I could win the set the way I did,” said Cornet. “In the tiebreak, oh my God, I was just praying for the best on every single shot.” she added.

Plans did not seem to work for Pliskova. She was taken aback at 7-5, 6-4 by Kudermetova with this month’s US Open fast approaching. Kudermetova rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the first set and won the last three games of the match to top the 2016 US Open finalist.

“I tried to not think about the score. I tried to fight, tried to continue play every ball,” Kudermetova said. “I tried just to fight and enjoy it,” she added.

Russian No. 4 celebrates her third career win over a top-10 player. She will now face either the 14th seed Elise Mertens or Kristina Mladenovic for a spot in the quarter-finals.

2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, suffered a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) defeat against Caroline Garcia, former World No. 4 in the first round. Garcia won six consecutive games from 3-1 down in the opening set to lead by a set and a break. Though Stephens fought back and built herself a 5-3 lead, Garcia was not to be denied at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Former World No. 1 and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka awaits Garcia. Elsewhere, 12th seed Anett Kontaveit raced past 2018 French Open and Wimbledon quarter-finalist Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-1.