World No 2 Simona Halep, World No 9 Barty knocked out of Italian Open

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 44 in WTA rankings Marketa Vondrousova, 19, Czech Republic, stunned World No 2 Simona Halep, 27, Romania, in the second round of Italian Open at Rome, Italy, on May 16, 2019. Marketa beat reigning French Open Champion and 3rd seed in three-sets 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 at Foro Italico, Rome, coming from behind. Halep had reached the final of Madrid Open last week.

Halep though broke Marketa’s service 4 times in the match while the latter broke her service thrice. Halep also served 3 Aces in the match to 1 by Marketa. Halep also won 5 games in a row in the match to 3 by Marketa. Halep won 48 service points to 41 by Marketa. But, Market’s winning percentage on her 2nd serve ( 71%) was much higher than that of Halep (35%). Halep had a better first serve percentage (69%) compared to 59% of that of Marketa.

World No 63 Kristina Mladenovic, 25, France, swept past World No 9 Ashleigh Barty, 23, Australia,  6-2, 6-3 in the Round of 16 to enter the quarter-finals of the clay court tournament. Barty had won singles title at Indian Wells, USA, in March 2019. Mladenovic won just one break point in the match.  But, her winning percentage on her first serve was 100 %. compared to zero percent of Barty’s. Barty’s winning percentage on her 2nd serve was 50% compared to 33% of that of Mladenovic.

World No 4 Kiki Bertens, 27, Netherlands, entered the quarter-finals of the tournament defeating World No 31 Carla Suarez Navarro, 30, Spain, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the Round of 16.

World No 51 Viktoria Azarenka, 29, Belarus, also entered the quarter-finals beating after World No 19 Garbine Muguruza, 25, Spain, winner of two Grand Slam titles, retired in the second set trailing 4-6, 1-3.