Maria Sakkari makes short work of Coco Gauff at Cincinnati as Venus Williams also makes early exit
Coco Gauff and Venus Williams both fell at the first hurdle of the Western & Southern Open in New York as Maria Sakkari claimed a comfortable win over Gauff while Williams went down in three sets.
The 13th seeded Sakkari dropped only four games en route to a 65-minute 6-1, 6-3 victory over teenager Gauff.
.@mariasakkari slides into the 2️⃣nd round at @CincyTennis!
She defeats Gauff, 6-1, 6-3. pic.twitter.com/9NDLKf2TAG
— wta (@WTA) August 22, 2020
The Greek broke twice in each set to earn the routine win.
“I think my serve was one thing that really worked well today and gave me a lot of cheap points, if I can call them like that,” Sakkari said.
“I think the toughest spot was just to follow the tactic the whole time, like always, but I’m very satisfied, because after a long time I got to play on that level.”
Former world No 1 Williams were beaten in three sets by Dayana Yastremska with the 16th seed winning 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in two hours and 36 minutes.
A victorious effort by @D_Yastremska 💪
The No.16 seed charges back from a set down to overcome Williams 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 at @CincyTennis. pic.twitter.com/RVkNhzLqGE
— wta (@WTA) August 23, 2020
The Ukrainian admitted after the match that she came close to throwing in the towel in the second set.
“I’m very happy that I won and same time very sad because I had really good opportunity the first set. But when I twisted my ankle, to be honest, my mind completely went the other way. I started to think just about the pain, how I twisted, and what is going to be next,” she said.
“I really wanted to withdraw after the first game [of the second set] when I lost, but after that, the second game when I was serving, I [said] to myself that I’m not going to withdraw, that I’m going to play to the end. It doesn’t matter how it’s going to finish, but I have to finish that match. I really have to deal with the pain.”
Next up is fellow American Bernarda Pera, who beat Heather Watson from Great Britain 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka upset 15th seed Donna Vekic as the Belarusian secured a 6-2, 6-3 victory while Ekaterina Alexandrova from Russia stunned ninth seed Elena Rybakina 7-5, 7-6 (8-6).
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official.
Latest
-
WimbledonAndy Murray’s greatest hits not enough to stop John Isner’s heavy metal music at Wimbledon
Andy Murray’s exit from Wimbledon was rough for those watching, writes Tim Ellis.
-
WimbledonRafael Nadal closer to Novak Djokovic on grass than on hard courts – says his coach
Rafael Nadal has a better chance to beat Novak Djokovic on grass than on a hard court.
-
Live TennisWimbledon day four: Follow the action from SW19 with Tennis365’s live scores and results centre here…
Catch the action from Wimbledon with our live scores and results centre…
-
WimbledonEmma Raducanu shrugs off pressure talk after Wimbledon exit: ‘I’m still 19. It’s a joke. I literally won a Slam’
Emma Raducanu bats away pressure talk.
-
WimbledonAndy Murray not making long-term predictions, but insists ‘if physically I feel good, then I’ll keep playing’
Andy Murray vows to keep going if his body holds up.
-
WimbledonWimbledon TV channels, streaming info: How to watch Rafael Nadal, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff on Thursday
Your Wimbledon TV, streaming, order of play guide.
-
WimbledonWimbledon day four: British favourites fall but Cameron Norrie keeps home flag flying
Cameron Norrie ensured at least one Briton would reach the third round.
-
WimbledonAndy Murray will ask how much more he can take after Wimbledon defeat
It was almost as if Andy Murray…
-
NewsCameron Norrie not trying to ‘make a name’ for himself at Wimbledon
The British number one won in five sets to make the third round at SW19 for a second consecutive year.
-
Tennis NewsNovak Djokovic offers support to family of Boris Becker
Novak Djokovic has hosted Becker’s family in his player’s box in both rounds of Wimbledon so far.