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Two more seeds were knocked out of the WTA tournament in Birmingham on Tuesday as Tamira Paszek and Urszula Radwanska bowed out in the second round.
Paszek, ranked 29 in the world and seeded four in the tournament, went down in three sets, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, to American Alison Riske, the 22-year-old 167th ranked player recording perhaps her finest win yet.
“It was the third time I’ve played her and it’s always been on grass, so I’m glad I pulled through,” said Riske.
“I’ve always really enjoyed this tournament. I think it comes down to the fact I really enjoy playing on grass and they do a really great job running this tournament. I feel at home in Birmingham.”
Radwanska, seeded eight, produced a limp display in losing 6-3, 6-2 to Donna Vekic of Croatia.
However, home hope Heather Watson, seeded 14, made no mistake in her first round match beating the experienced Hungarian Melinda Czink 6-4, 7-6 (7/0).
It was a big win for her as she had been out from March to May with the illness that appears to be affecting a lot of tennis players mononucleosis.
She did manage to play in the French Open but went out in the first round.
“After winning today it motivates me more for the future,” said 21-year-old Watson.
“When I was out of the game I was thinking about how I wanted to be back, but you never really realize how much until you’re actually back.”
Italy’s 15th seed Francesca Schiavone almost joined Paszek and Radwanska in exiting early but she fought back from a set down to prevail in three, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), over Georgian Anna Tatishvili.
Two seeds had been eliminated on Monday when Asian duo Su-Wei Hsieh of Taiwan and Japan’s Ayumi Morita were both beaten in straight sets.
However, Hsieh’s conqueror Jamie Hampton failed to reproduce that form on Tuesday as the American – who reached the Last 16 at the French Open went out in three hard fought sets 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) to compatriot Madison Keys.
