A COUPLE of huge upsets on day two of the Libema Open fantasy tennis tournament in both the men’s and women’s competitions have shaken up the draw going forward. Greek second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is out of the Open after falling to Frenchman Benoit Paire in three sets, 7-5 3-6 6-3. Also joining him on the list of outs is fourth seed Swiss talent, Stan Wawrinka who was certainly not Stan the Man in his defeat to Japan’s Kei Nishikori, 6-3 6-4.

The other two seeds to join the Libema Open for their first match of the week won through, with number one seed Roger Federer having to shake off a determined Borna Coric to win 6-4 2-6 6-1. Third seed Belgian David Goffin got up over American Taylor Fritz in a more commanding 6-4 6-1 victory. The only other seed to fall in the men’s draw was sixth seed Brit Andy Murray who bowed out to South African qualifier Kevin Anderson, 6-3 4-6 6-3.

The three lower ranked seeds all made it through in three tight sets, with Chilean Cristian Garin, Australian Alex de Minaur and Brit Daniel Evans booking a spot in the quarter finals. They knocked off French duo Ugo Humbert and Jeremy Chardy, and Italian Andreas Seppi to make their way through to the final eight, but not without a challenge, including both de Minaur and Evans falling a set behind before bouncing back to win in three.

The quarter finals sees Evans matched up against top seed Federer, Goffin taking on Anderson, Garin facing Nishikori and de Minaur going head-to-head with Paire.

ATP ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

[1] Roger Federer (SUI) defeated Borna Coric (CRO) 6-4 2-6 6-1
Benoit Paire (FRA) defeated [2] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 7-5 3-6 6-3
[3] David Goffin (BEL) defeated Taylor Fritz (USA) 6-4 6-1
Kei Nishikori (JPN) defeated [4] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 6-3 6-4
[5] Cristian Garin (CHI) defeated Ugo Humbert (FRA) 6-4 4-6 6-4
[Q] Kevin Anderson (RSA) defeated [6] Andy Murray (GBR) 6-3 4-6 6-3
[7] Alex de Minaur (AUS) defeated Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 3-6 6-4 7-5
[8] Daniel Evans (GBR) defeated Andreas Seppi (ITA) 5-7 6-1 6-1

In the women’s action, the second seed also fell in the Round of 16, with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka bowing out in straight sets to German Angelique Kerber, 6-4 6-3. The German star moved through to the quarter finals, joining Kristyna Pliskova as the other unseeded player to topple a seed on day two. Pliskova got past fifth seed Elise Mertens in a come-from-behind win 2-6 6-2 6-3 to join her sister in the next stage.

Karolina Pliskova did not have too much trouble disposing of another Belarusian in Grand Slam winner Victoria Azarenka, 6-1 6-4, while third seed Kiki Bertens continued her good run in her home tournament with an identical scoreline against unseeded American Kristi Ahn. Sixth seed Alison Riske and eighth seed Johanna Konta also made their way through to the final eight with straight sets wins over Ons Jabeur and Coco Gauff respectively.

In the final two matches, Russian Veronika Kudermetova defeated German wildcard Andrea Petkovic 6-2 6-3, while Slovenian Polona Hercog got the better of another Russian in Ekaterina Alexandrova, also 6-2 6-3. In tomorrow’s quarter finals action, top seed Pliskova faces Kudermetova, while her sister matches up with Hercog. In the other quarter finals, Riske and Bertens go head-to-head in the match of the day, while Konta and Kerber looms as another massive clash.

WTA ROUND OF 16 RESULTS:

[1] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) defeated Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 6-1 6-4
Angelique Kerber (GER) defeated [2] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 6-4 6-3
[3] Kiki Bertens (NED) defeated Kristie Ahn (USA) 6-1 6-4
Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) defeated [5] Elise Mertens (BEL) 2-6 6-2 6-3
[6] Alison Riske (USA) defeated Ons Jabeur (TUN) 6-4 7-6
[8] Johanna Konta (GBR) defeated Coco Gauff (USA) 6-3 6-1
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) defeated [WC] Andrea Petkovic (GER) 6-2 6-3
Polona Hercog (SLO) defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) 6-2 6-3