Berlin Open: Upset losses in second round for Sabalenka and Gauff

Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and seventh-ranked Coco Gauff had upset losses to Russian gamers within the second spherical of the Berlin Open on Thursday.

Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion from Belarus, was crushed 6-2, 7-6 (2) by Veronika Kudermetova regardless of bettering after an error-strewn begin. Gauff misplaced 6-4, 6-0 to Ekaterina Alexandrova.

“For me it’s very important to play like that today,” Kudermetova mentioned. “I always believe in myself. I know I can play really well, and I always believe.”

Both Sabalenka and Gauff had been taking part in their first event on grass — and their first for the reason that French Open — whereas their Russian opponents reached the ultimate of the grass-court Libema Open within the Netherlands on Sunday, which Alexandrova gained.

They will now have a rematch in Berlin for a spot within the semifinals in opposition to both Caroline Garcia or Petra Kvitova.

Gauff had the sting early on with a 3-1 lead within the first set earlier than dropping 11 of the subsequent 12 video games as Alexandrova dominated.

“Maybe the score looks easy, but it’s never like that because she played amazing,” mentioned Alexandrova, who gained her seventh straight match. “I needed to stay focused during every single point to keep it that way. I’m just hoping I can keep this form as long as I can.”

Players from Russia and Belarus are returning to Wimbledon subsequent month after they had been barred final yr following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Marketa Vondrousova booked her place within the quarterfinals when her opponent Jule Niemeier retired whereas dropping 6-3, 6-5 after injuring her wrist in a fall.