AGEL OPEN 2022: Pliskova crashes out with a second 100 player, Bencic moves on

The second day of play at AGEL Open 2022 in Ostrava brought one very unexpected result. Karolina Pliskova failed to win her match against a qualifier and after a very bad performance she is leaving the tournament. Renata Voráčová, an experienced doubles player, is also out of the doubles.

Pliskova’s woes

It was not her day at all. Karolina Pliskova entered the match against qualifier Alycia Parks (144th) as a big favourite with a clear goal to decide the match as quickly as possible. But she didn’t do that at all.

In the first set, the American, who had not won a match on the WTA circuit since mid-June, gave her no chance and Pliskova was canned – 0-6.

“There was no place to catch her, her opponent served very well. Unfortunately, it was a bad match from my side. One of my worst matches this year. I didn’t get into the game at all,” said Pliskova after the match.

In the second set, Pliskova led 3-1, but then she lost four games in a row and in the tiebreak Parks managed to win the set again – 6-7(3).

Alycia Parks will face the tournament’s number four, Maria Sakkari (7th) from Greece, in the next round. The win over Pliskova was her first scalp against a player in the Top 20. On the other hand, the Czech player lost four matches in one calendar year to a player outside the top 100 for the first time since 2013.

Alycia Parks (USA, 144th) – Karolina Pliskova (19th) 6::0, 7::6(3)

The end of Voracova

Renata Voráčová, another Czech, failed to advance to the next round, fighting in the doubles alongside China’s Xiu Wang. However, the pair of Anna Danilinova from Kazakhstan and Beatriz Haddad Maio from Brazil were too much for them in the opening round of doubles.

The first set was a straightforward affair for Danilin and Mai. In the second act, Voracova and Wangova were already leading 4-1, but then came a series of winning games for their opponents, who eventually dominated the second set.

Voracova, S. Wang (CHN) – Danilinova (KAZ), Haddad Maia (BRA) 2::6, 4::6

Bencic and Kasatkina advance

Olympic champion Belinda Bencic (14th) also played her first match of the tournament. She faced Eugenie Bouchard (506th), who in the past was considered a great talent in women’s tennis. And the 506th player in the world managed to win the first set and surprised her Swiss opponent in the tiebreak.

But then Bencic was able to fight back, winning the second set 6-1 and in the last set the finalist of the Tallinn tournament only needed one break to send herself to the next round, where she may again face Barbora Krejcikova, who will play Shelby Rogers today.

Darya Kasatkina also advanced to the next round, taking two sets against Emma Raducanu, who has been playing in very poor form lately. Aljaksandra Sasnovic also made it to the next round, beating world number six Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 in both sets.

Singles results

Anna Blinkova (RUS, 137th) – Caty McNally (USA, 151st) 1::6, 2::6
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT, 16th) – Aljaksandra Sasnovic (BEL, 31st) 2::6, 2::6
Emma Raducanu (GBR, 67th) – Darya Kasatkina (RUS, 11th) 5::7, 4::6 Belinda Bencic (SUI, 14th) – Eugenie Bouchard (CAN, 506th) 6::7(7), 6::1, 6::4

Doubles results

Eikeriova (NOR), Mihalikova (SVK) – Gabujeva, Zakharova (-) 6::4, 2::6, 10::8
Kalashnikova (GEO), Kania-Chodunova (POL) – Rosolska (POL), Routliffe (NZL) 4::6, 3::6

Next program

Three Czech representatives will be present at the tournament today. Barbora Krejcikova (23rd) will face the aforementioned match with American Shelby Rogers (35th). Karolína Muchová (189th) will face Brazil’s Haddad Maia (15th) and Petra Kvitová (20th) will play a semifinal match against tournament runner-up Paola Bados (4th) from Spain.

World No. 1 Iga Swiatek (No. 1) will also face the dangerous Alja Tomljanicova (No. 34) of Australia in her first match. Elena Rybakina (26th) will take on Alyeksandra Sanovicova (31st) of Belarus in the evening match.

Sources: WTA, Livesport, Twitter, Youtube