The first round was completed and the second round got underway at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart on Wednesday with most of the top names moving on.
In first round action, Caroline Wozniacki came from 1-3 down in the first set to beat fellow former World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic. The Dane was leading 6-3, 1-0 when Jankovic was forced to retire due to a lower back injury.
“It was definitely not the way you want to win a match,” Wozniacki commented. “It was a tough draw – she’s a former World No.1 and can play some amazing tennis. I hope Jelena can get well soon and come back and be ready for Madrid.”
Woniacki next plays Germany’s Angelique Kerber, who beat her in straight sets a week and a half ago in Copenhagen.
Rising German Mona Barthel upset No.15-ranked Ana Ivanovic 75 76(4). “On all of my set points she hit big serves – she served great and played very well today,” Ivanovic commented. “I really had my chances in the first set. It was disappointing to finish like this but she was playing on top of her game.”
In the final first round match, lucky loser Akgul Amanmuradova served 11 aces to beat Slovak Domnikia Cibulkova, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.
In second round matches, World No. 2 Maria Sharapova and World No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska advanced to reach the quarter finals.
Radwanska won a tour-leading 27th match of the season beating Greta Arn, of Hungary, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
“It was my first match of the year on clay and Greta already had a couple matches here, and that’s always hard,” Radwanska commented. “It’s especially hard on clay – but it was a good match, and I’m happy how I played today.”
Second seed Sharapova was leading qualifier Alize Cornet 6-3, 1-0 (30-0) when the former World No.11 retired with a shoulder injury aggravation.
“You never want matches to end that way,” Sharapova told the press later. “But my opponent today had already played four matches to get here and was obviously feeling it and having a bit of a problem with the shoulder. At this stage, a few weeks before Roland Garros in her home country, it’s important for her to get well.”
PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX
Stuttgart, Germany
Singles – Second Round
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) def. (Q) Alizé Cornet (FRA) 6-3, 1-0 ret. (right shoulder injury)
(4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) def. (Q) Greta Arn (HUN) 6-3, 6-4
Singles – First Round
(6) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) def. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 6-3, 1-0 ret. (low back injury)
(LL) Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) def. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
(WC) Mona Barthel (GER) def. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 7-5, 7-6 (4)
0 Comments