New York surprise: Kenin and Pliskova fall in their debut

The day this Sunday left us big surprises at the Premier 5 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati (played in New York because of the coronavirus pandemic). Czech Karolina Pliskova, the main favorite for the title, and American Sofia Kenin, this year's Australian Open champion, said goodbye to the tournament on their debut in the competition.

Pliskova was surprised by the Russian Veronika Kudermetova, number 41 in the ranking, who did not give her a choice throughout the match and beat her 7-5, 6-4. A tough defeat for Pliskova before the start of the US Open, where the Czech will start as a great favorite for the title after the losses of Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep.

It also fell to the first of change Sofia Kenin. The American, champion of the Australian Open and leader of the Race To Shenzhen, was overtaken by the French Alizé Cornet, which overwhelmed him in the first set and also managed to quell Kenin's attempt to react in the second set after forcing a tie-break (6-1, 7-6).

Mertens and Kontaveit do not give rise to surprises in New York

The great figures of this second day of Cincinnati Masters 1,000 that takes place in the facilities of the US Open in New York did not give rise to surprises. Elise Mertens, No. 22 of the WTA ranking, swept off the track of the Western & Southern Open the Swedish Peterson, to whom he only conceded two games in the entire match. The scoreboard spoke for itself of the superiority shown by the Belgian: 6-0 and 6-2. His next opponent will be Mladenovic.

For its part, Anett Kontaveit (No. 20) he did not have too many complications against the Russian Kasatkina, signing a comfortable victory in just 57 minutes of play: 6-3 and 6-1. In this way, and with little wear and tear, both Mertens and Kontaveit ensured their presence in the round of 32 of the tournament.

The negative news of the day came in the form of withdrawal by Kim Clijsters. The veteran Belgian player, who decided to return to competition this season after retiring for several seasons, was withdrawn from the main draw before her match against the American Brady because of some abdominal discomfort.

Results for Sunday, August 23 at Premier 5 in Cincinnati

Second round

Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) to Karolina Pliskova (RCH) 7-5 and 6-4

Alizé Cornet (FRA) to Sofia Kenin (USA) 6-1 and 7-6

First round

Elise Mertens (BEL) to Rebecca Peterson (SUE) 6-0 and 6-2

Jessica Pegula (USA) to Jennifer Brady (USA) 7-6 and 6-4

Catherine Bellis (USA) to Oceane Dodin (FRA) 6-2, 3-6 and 7-6

Anett Kontaveit (EST) to Daria Kasatkina (RUS) 6-3 and 6-1

Jill Teichmann (SUI) to Danielle Collins (USA) 6-3 and 6-3

Marie Bouzkova (RCH) to Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) 6-1 and 7-5

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) to Katerina Siniakova (RCH) 6-3 and 6-3

Vera Zvonareva (RUS) to Magda Linette (POL) 1-6, 6-3 and 6-1

Laura Siegemund (ALE) to Marketa Vondrousova (RCH) 6-3, 6-7 and 6-4

Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) to Shuai Zhang (CHN) 6-4 and 6-3

Arantxa Rus (NED) to Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 6-2 and 6-3

Ons Jabeur (TUN) to Leylah Fernandez (CAN) 0-6, 6-4 and 6-3

Christina McHale (USA) to Iga Swiatek (POL) 6-2 and 6-4

Caroline Garcia (FRA) to Sloane Stephens (USA) 6-3 and 7-6