THERE were no major shocks in the ATP Libema Open, whilst six of the eight WTA seeds reached the second round in the WTA fantasy tennis tournament in s’Hertogenbosch. Of the day’s winners, the top three women dominated proceedings, whilst the highest seeded men largely had greater degree of difficulty to win.

In the ATP tournament, the four seeds in action all made it through to the Round of 16, with varying match lengths. Fifth seed Cristian Garin – fresh off a Roland Garros semi-final – was made to work for a Round of 16 spot against French wildcard, Corentin Moutet throughout a come-from-behind three-set win. Garin got up 5-7 6-3 6-4 to make his way through to the next round. It was a similar tale for Australian seventh seed Alex de Minaur who put a horror clay season behind him to knock off another Frenchman in Adrian Mannarino, 6-7 7-5 7-5.

The other two seeds had a bit of an easier time with sixth seed Brit Andy Murray taking out compatriot and qualifier Cameron Norrie 7-6 6-1, while the other British winner was Daniel Evans. The eighth seed got up over the in-form Aljaz Bedene 6-1 6-2 in just an hour and three minutes. Kyle Edmund could not beat his two highest ranked compatriots in the second round, bowing out to Frenchman Benoit Paire in three sets. It was a really busy day for France on the courts with eight Frenchmen featuring in all different matches. 

Joining Paire in the Round of 16 were Ugo Humbert and Jeremy Chardy who won in straight sets over the in-form Nicolas Jarry, and Australian qualifier Matthew Ebden both in straight sets. The news was not as positive for another qualifier in Pierre Hugues Herbert who bowed out to Borna Coric in three sets, while Richard Gasquet also bowed out to Andreas Seppi. Gregoire Barrere was another French casualty in Round 1, losing to Taylor Fritz 7-5 6-3. Other winners on the men’s side were South African qualifier Kevin Anderson and Japanese talent Kei Nishikori.

ATP ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[5] Cristian Garin (CHI) defeated [WC] Corentin Moutet (FRA) 5-7 6-3 6-4
[6] Andy Murray (GBR) defeated [Q] Cameron Norrie (GBR) 7-6 6-1
[7] Alex de Minaur (AUS) defeated Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 6-7 7-5 7-5
[8] Daniel Evans (GBR) defeated Aljaz Bedene (SLO) 6-1 6-2
Borna Coric (CRO) defeated [Q] Pierre Hugues Herbert (FRA) 7-5 3-6 6-3
Andreas Seppi (ITA) defeated Richard Gasquet (FRA) 7-6 3-6 7-5
[Q] Kevin Anderson (RSA) defeated Jiri Vesely (CZE) 6-4 4-6 7-6
Taylor Fritz (USA) defeated [WC] Gregoire Barrere (FRA) 7-5 6-3
Kei Nishikori (JPN) defeated Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-3 6-3
Ugo Humbert (FRA) defeated Nicolas Jarry (CHI) 7-5 6-3
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) defeated [Q] Matthew Ebden (AUS) 6-4 7-6
Benoit Paire (FRA) defeated Kyle Edmund (GBR) 6-3 5-7 7-6

In the women’s first round, there were not a great deal of surprises as the top three seeds completely destroyed their respective opponents. Karolina Pliskova, Aryna Sabalenka and Kiki Bertens all cruised through to the Round of 16, dropping a combined four games between them. They left Slovakian Vikoria Kuzmova, and qualifiers, Jasmine Paolini and Greet Minnen in their wake by pushing through to the second round. Also through easily were sixth seed Alison Riske and eighth seed Johanna Konta who had impressive wins over Alison Van Uytvanck and Arantxa Rus respectively.

Belgium’s Elise Mertens had the toughest straight sets win of the seeded winners, holding off a determined Lesia Tsurenko to get up 7-5 6-4. The news was not as good for Kazakhstan duo Elena Rybakina and Yulia Putintseva. The pair can catch the same flight home after Rybakina lost in three sets to Slovenian Polona Hercog 3-6 7-6 6-4 in more than two and a half hours, while Putintseva lost to Russian Veronika Kudermetova 7-6 2-6 7-5.

Looking at the unseeded matches, German wildcard Andrea Petkovic turned around a shocking first set to overcome fellow wildcard, Australian Priscilla Hon 0-6 6-4 6-2. Grand Slam winner, Victoria Azarenka moved through to the Round of 16 courtesy of a victory over 2019 Roland Garros finalist Marketa Vondrousova, while her compatriot Aliaksandra Sasnovich went down to Kristyna Pliskova in straight sets, with the Czech joining her sister in the next stage. American duo, Kristie Ahn and Coco Gauff made it through to the Round of 16, as did Tunisian Ons Jabeur, Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova and German Angelique Kerber.

WTA ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[1] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) defeated Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) 6-1 6-0
[2] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) defeated [Q] Jasmine Paolini (ITA) 6-1 6-0
[3] Kiki Bertens (NED) defeated [Q] Greet Minnen (BEL) 6-1 6-1
Polona Hercog (SLO) defeated [4] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 3-6 7-6 6-4
[5] Elise Mertens (BEL) defeated [Q] Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 7-5 6-4
[6] Alison Riske (USA) defeated Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 6-2 6-3
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) defeated [7] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 7-6 2-6 7-5
[8] Johanna Konta (GBR) defeated Arantxa Rus (NED) 6-2 6-2
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) defeated Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) 6-1 6-4
[WC] Andrea Petkovic (GER) defeated [WC] Priscilla Hon (AUS) 0-6 6-4 6-2
Ons Jabeur (TUN) defeated Rebecca Peterson (SWE) 6-4 6-3
Kristie Ahn (USA) defeated [Q] Leylah Fernandez (CAN) 7-6 6-2
Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) defeated [WC] Mona Barthel (GER) 7-6 6-4
Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) defeated [WC] Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-2 6-3
Coco Gauff (USA) defeated Yafan Wang (CHN) 6-2 6-7 6-3
Angelique Kerber (GER) defeated Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-4 2-6 6-4