US Open 2020: Karolina Pliskova loses but Naomi Osaka advances

Seeded Karolina Pliskova was eliminated from the US Open in the second round with a heavy defeat to Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.

Czech world number three Pliskova was the tallest player here in the absence of Australian Ashleigh Barty and Romanian Simona Halep.

Meanwhile, other seeds to fall were Elena Rybakina (11), Marketa Vondrousova (12) and Alison Riske (13).

But there were victories for the fourth seed Naomi Osaka, sixth seed Petra Kvitova, eighth seed Petra Martic and 14th Estonian seed Anett Kontaveit.

“I am not a robot” – Pliskova

Six of the top 10 players in the world were already absent from the closed-door tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And Pliskova’s exit could further increase Serena Williams’ chances of winning a record 24th Grand Slam singles title in an open women’s draw.

Pliskova hit only one winner in a poor first set performance and crashed early in the second – breaking a racket in frustration – before improving her level to carve out two set points.

But she failed to convert them and Garcia continued to take him to the tie-break, which he dominated.

“I thought he played great tennis in the first set,” Pliskova said. “He was just playing super aggressively, looking for his shots.

“Maybe I didn’t play my best. But sometimes it is. I’m not a robot, so I don’t have to play great every day.”

Garcia, who has won seven tour titles, will face American world number 41 Jennifer Brady in the next round.

“I feel like I have to use my platform” – Osaka

Osaka, who beat Williams to win the US Open title in 2018, said yes He “stressed” whether a hamstring injury would prevent his progress before the tournament starts.

Playing with heavy straps on her left thigh, she never seemed threatened by Italy’s Camila Giorgi and won 6-1 6-2 in 69 minutes.

The Osaka faces an even less demanding test in the third round, when she plays Marta Kostyuk number 137 of the Ukrainian world.

The 22-year-old Japanese brought seven face masks to Flushing Meadows to highlight racial injustice in the United States, each named after a dead African-American.

On Monday it was Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead by police in March, and Wednesday Elijah McClain, who died after being put in a choke and injected with ketamine in 2019.

“Tennis – people watch it all over the world,” Osaka said. “Things we think are common names are not common overseas.

“I just want people to have more knowledge. I feel like the platform I have right now is something I took for granted and I feel I should be using it for something.”

Kvitova and Kerber pass, but other seeds fall

Two-time Grand Slam champion Kvitova returned from a break in the first set and saved a set point by beating Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.

Former champion Angelique Kerber also faced a difficult match, winning 6-3 7-6 (8-6) against German colleague Anna-Lena Friedsam.

But Kvitova Vondrousova’s Czech compatriot, runner-up at Roland Garros 2019, lost 6-1 6-2 to Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich.