THERE was chaos across the Mexican Open with three of the four seeds playing on day one already out of the tournament. With every player in the draw outside the top 100, it made for tight contests in most regards with five of the eight matches going the full distance.

Of the three upsets, Russian Anna Kalinskaya bundled out second seed Spaniard Aliona Bolsova, though it is worth noting the 112th ranked Russian had a higher hard court ranking than her opponent 10 places higher. It was more of the score than the upset that surprised the crowd, with Kalinskaya cruising to a 6-2 6-2 victory in about 70 minutes of action. It was a similar story in the next match with Frenchwoman Oceane Dodin bundling out in-form Chinese teenager, Wang Xiyu 6-3 6-3 in an hour and a half. The seventh seed joined eighth seed Russian, Vitalia Diatchenko on the exit list, after Diatchenko suffered a three-set defeat to the most underrated player at the tournament, Belarusian, Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Rated as the top ranked performer on hard court from this draw, Sasnovich booked her spot in the second round with an impressive performance.

It was more predictable for third seed and tournament favourite, Peng Shuai who fought off a brave challenge from Ukrainian, Marta Kostyuk to win 6-1 3-6 6-3. As the sole seed into the next round from the bottom half of the draw, Shuai will be a tough competitor to beat on her run to the title. In other results, Monica Niculescu won the all-Romanian battle against compatriot, Mihaela Buzarnescu in three sets, while Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinskzy had an equally tight tussle with Belgian, Ysaline Bonaventure 6-3 3-6 6-3. Bacsinskzy’s compatriot in Stefanie Voegele came from behind to down Slovenian, Kaja Juvan 4-6 6-4 6-4, while German Mona Barthel had the easiest time of everyone, downing Katarzyna Kawa in 48 minutes 6-1 6-1.

In tomorrow’s actuation, the number one seed, Varvara Gracheva has a danger game against American Coco Vandeweghe, while fourth seed Greet Minnen and sixth seed Anna Lena Friedsam begin their campaigns against tough opponents, Shelby Rogers and Viktorija Golubic respectively.

ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) defeated [2] Aliona Bolsova (ESP) 6-2 6-2
[3] Shuai Peng (CHN) defeated Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 6-1 3-6 6-3
Oceane Dodin (FRA) defeated [7] Xiyu Wang (CHN) 6-3 6-3
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) defeated [8] Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) 6-4 3-6 6-2
Monica Niculescu (ROU) defeated Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) 6-1 3-6 6-2
Timea Bacsinskzy (SUI) defeated Ysaline Bonaventure (BEL) 6-3 3-6 6-3
Mona Barthel (GER) defeated Katarzyna Kawa (POL) 6-1 6-1
Stefanie Voegele (SUI) defeated Kaja Juvan (SLO) 4-6 6-4 6-4