Seeds tumble in Rabat as Petra Martic and Zarina Diyas crash out
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 25: Petra Martic of Croatia returns a shot against Ashleigh Barty of Australia during Day 7 of the Miami Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 25, 2018 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Third seed Petra Martic fell at the first hurdle in Rabat on a tough day for the tournament favourites.
Martic came up short against Flipkens despite a strong start, eventually losing 3-6 6-2 6-4. Martic faced a total of 15 break points over two and a quarter hours, saving 10.
Sixth seed Zarina Diyas also struggled losing to former world number five Sara Errani 6-4 6-4.
Sara Sorribes Tormo came through against Yulia Putinseva, edging the first set 7-6 (7/4) and following with a 6-0 second.
Croatia’s Jana Fett beat American Sachia Vickery 6-3 3-6 6-3, while Johanna Larsson bested fellow-Swede Rebecca Peterson, 2-6 6-3 6-1.