Karolina Pliskova falls at first hurdle in Birmingham
Third seed Karolina Pliskova was a first-round casualty at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham.
The Czech suffered a 6-2, 6-3 defeat at the hands of Magdalena Rybarikova, who won the title back in 2009.
Magdalena Rybarikova get the win over Pliskova at the #NatureValleyClassic!
Sealing the victory 6-2,6-3! pic.twitter.com/UIWmcBGUAE
— WTA (@WTA) June 18, 2018
“I always say that every match is very different,” Rybarikova said. “Karolina is a great player, and I have a lot of respect for her. Today I don’t think it was her best day, but it was all about serves and returns and I was just better at that. That was the key.”
She will face Kristina Mladenovic next after the Frenchwoman came from a set down to beat Czech Katerina Siniakova 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.
World No 18 Naomi Osaka had no such problems as she brushed aside British wild card Katie Boulder 6-1, 6-2.
.@Naomi_Osaka_ seals the win at the #NatureValleyClassic!
Defeats Boulter 6-1,6-2! pic.twitter.com/K2ePMIfIZh
— WTA (@WTA) June 18, 2018
Australian Daria Gavrilova also advanced as she beat former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 7-6, (8-6).
Latest
-
Kevin PalmerExclusive – Greg Rusedski on the future of the tennis press after Naomi Osaka’s French Open pull-out
Naomi Osaka pulled out of the French Open after refusing to speak to the media
-
NewsThoughts of Wimbledon return helped Katie Boulter recover from serious injury
The 24-year-old overcame a back problem during lockdown and has been playing at the Viking Open in Nottingham.
-
French OpenJoy for Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova as she books her place in French Open final
The Russian saw off Tamara Zidansek and will play in her first grand slam final.
-
NewsFrench Open final place on the line in 58th Rafael Nadal-Novak Djokovic clash
Djokovic defeated Nadal in Paris in 2015 but was well beaten in last year’s final.
-
French OpenBritain’s Joe Salisbury becomes French Open champion in mixed doubles
Salisbury and Krawczyk recovered from a set down to defeat Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev.
-
Kevin PalmerExclusive – Annabel Croft describes Novak Djokovic’s post match reaction as ‘concerning’
Djokovic screamed loudly in a stadium lacking fans and his outburst continued for a sustained period of time.
-
NewsRafael Nadal drops first set since 2019 final but eases past Diego Schwartzman
The story of the 11th day of action at the French Open.
-
French OpenWild scenes in Paris as Novak Djokovic beats Matteo Berrettini amid a spectator revolt
Novak Djokovic battled past Matteo Berrettini in a match that saw spectators ejected from Roland Garros midway through.
-
NewsNovak Djokovic beats Matteo Berrettini after fans boo their curfew ejection
The Serb roared at the end of a 6-3 6-2 6-7 (5) 7-5 victory over his Italian opponent.
-
NewsRafael Nadal drops a set but powers through to French Open semi-finals
Nadal won the final nine games against Diego Schwartzman in a 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-0 victory.