Mathieu WARNIER, Media365, published on Thursday August 19, 2021 at 09:02 am
Ashleigh Barty returned to the WTA Tour with a victory over Jennifer Brady for her Cincinnati entry. Naomi Osaka, meanwhile, had to pull up a set behind to dismiss Cori Gauff. Elina Svitolina, Bianca Andreescu, Elise Mertens, Caroline Garcia and Aryna Sabalenka did not make it through the round of 16.
After qualifying, Caroline Garcia failed to advance to the knockout stages of the WTA 1000 in Cincinnati. The Frenchwoman was beaten in the second round by Garbine Muguruza (6-4, 6-3). The Spaniard, seeded number 8, was superior to him. Broken once in the first set and twice in the second, the native of Lyon failed to cast doubt on her opponent. His two break points, unconverted, 3-4 in the second set, came too late. On her serve, she gave in on Garbine Muguruza’s first match point after 1h42 of play. In the next round, the latter will face Barbora Krejcikova. For this duel between girls of the world top 10 to take place, the Czech dismissed Dayana Yastremska (6-1, 7-6 (5)). As at Wimbledon, Ons Jabeur triumphed over Iga Swiatek (6-3, 6-3). The Tunisian was authoritarian against the seventh in the WTA rankings. Karolina Pliskova was even quicker to eliminate Yulia Putintseva (6-3, 6-2). The number 5 seed was imposed in just over an hour.
Ashleigh Barty Celebrates Her Comeback With Success
After his bronze medal in mixed doubles in Tokyo, Ashleigh Barty returned to the WTA Tour for the first time since winning Wimbledon title. And the world number 1 has not lost its good habits. Opposed to Heather Watson for her entry into the running in Cincinnati, the Australian started off with a bang to lead three games to nothing … before seeing the Briton come back to three games everywhere. The number 1 seed then broke again to make sure to win the first set. Ashleigh Barty then had two opportunities to take the service of the 67th world … but without success. The result was a decisive game that quickly turned in favor of the Australian, who however needed three match points to conclude (6-4, 7-6 in 1h48 ‘). Victoria Azarenka will face the world number 1 for a place in the quarter-finals. The Belarusian defeated Alison Riske in two sets (6-2, 7-5 in 1h37 ‘).
Osaka has turned the tide, Halep throws in the towel
Naomi Osaka was hot but will be well in the round of 16 in Cincinnati. The Japanese, seeded number 2, was challenged by Cori Gauff. Indeed, The American was able to get the break at the very last moment to win the first set before taking the break very early in the second. However, the world number 2 was able to immediately pick up and then, winning the last three games, come back to a round everywhere. The last set saw only one break point, from the first game and converted by Naomi Osaka. More solid in her game, the Japanese was no longer worried and ended the meeting with a shutout (4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 1h52 ‘). For a place in the quarter-finals, Naomi Osaka will face Swiss guest Jil Teichmann. The latter dominated in two dry innings Bernarda Pera (6-1, 6-4 in 1h18 ‘). Petra Kvitova also easily passed the pitfall of the second round thanks to her victory in two sets over Veronika Kudermetova (6-2, 6-4 in 1h21 ‘). The seeded number 11 will find Ons Jabeur or Iga Swiatek in the round of 16. While she had to face Jessica Pegula in the night session, Simona Halep announced that she had to withdraw. Victim of a muscle tear in the right adductor, the number 12 seed preferred to limit the risks for the US Open.
Svitolina, Andreescu and Mertens eliminated!
The top seeds are not celebrating in Cincinnati! Fourth in the hierarchy, Elina Svitolina saw her career in Ohio end as soon as she entered the running. Indeed, after having dominated Maria Sakkari, Angelique Kerber got the better of the Ukrainian in three sets, knowing very well how to recover after having clearly conceded the second set at the end of a first marked by the inconstancy of the two players on the service, with seven games concluded on a break. It is following an exchange of lost service games that the German has definitely gained the upper hand (7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in 2h11 ‘), with Jelena Ostapenko who will be her opponent in the round of 16. The Latvian indeed took advantage of the abandonment of Jennifer Brady at the end of the second round (6-7, 5-4 in 1h48 ‘). Bianca Andreescu suffered the same fate as Elina Svitolina in her duel against Karolina Muchova. But the seed number 7 suffered a much sharper setback, in two dry innings (6-4, 6-2 in 1h27 ‘). Thanks to this prestigious success, the Czech will find Belinda Bencic for a place in the quarter-finals. The Swiss, seeded number 10, got the better of Shelby Rogers (7-6, 6-1 in 1h39 ‘). Seed number 15, Elise Mertens was no more successful against Elena Rybakina. Indeed, the Kazakhe only needed two sets to eliminate the Belgian (6-3, 6-2 in 1h15 ‘). A victory which will allow him to cross swords with Paula Badosa in the next round. The Spanish knocked down Aryna Sabalenka (5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4)).
CINCINNATI (United States, WTA 1000, hard, € 1,816,008)
Title holder: Victoria Azarenka (BIE)
2nd round
Barty (AUS, n ° 1) bat Watson (GBR, Q) : 6-4, 7-6 (3)
Azarenka (BIE, n°14) bat Riske (USA): 6-2, 7-5
Krejcikova (RTC, n°9) bat Yastremska (UKR) : 6-1, 7-6(5)
Muguruza (ESP, n ° 8) bat Garcia (FRA, Q): 6-4, 6-3
Kerber (ALL) bat Svitolina (UKR, n ° 4): 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
Ostapenko (LET) bat Brady (USA, n°13) : 6-7 (2), 5-4 abandon
Kvitova (RTC, n°11) bat Kudermetova (RUS) : 6-2, 6-4
Jabeur (DO) bat Swiatek (POL, n°6) : 6-3, 6-3
Ka.Pliskova (RTC, n ° 5) batPutintseva (KAZ): 6-3, 6-2
Pegula (USA) bat Halep (ROU, n ° 12) by package
Rybakina (KAZ) bat Mertens (BEL, n ° 15): 6-3, 6-2
Badosa (ESP) beats Sabalenka (BIE, n ° 3): 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4)
Muchova (RTC) bat Andreescu (CAN, n ° 7): 6-4, 6-2
Bencic (CAN, n°10) bat Rogers (USA) : 7-6 (1), 6-1
Teichmann (SUI, WC) bat Pera (USA, WC): 6-1, 6-4
Osaka (JAP, n°2) bat Gauff (USA) : 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
