DAY one of Madrid Open fantasy tournament saw just the one big scalp, but it may just be the biggest one there could be in the Round of 64, as Serena Williams went down in straight sets. But other than the eighth seed and champion going down in the first round, the day was relatively predictable. Williams was one of five American competitors to go down in the first round, with only qualifier Taylor Townsend made it through to the Round of 32.

Of the 16 matches on day one, seven winners were seeded while three qualifiers also made their way through, with the most remarkable qualifying winner Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro. Suarez Navarro impressed not only with her win against Williams but also the way in which she did so, in a one-sided affair 6-0 6-3, not once letting the American record-breaker get a look in and forcing constant errors. Second seed Simona Halep and sixth seed Naomi Osaka achieved similarly threatening wins, with Halep defeating young gun Coco Gauff in just under an hour, 6-1 6-2, while Osaka dominated against Czech talent Karolina Muchova.

Prague champion Elina Svitolina had a slow second set but overall backed up her recent title well with a 6-4 1-6 6-4 win over American Amanda Anisimova, while Anisimova’s compatriots Coco Vandeweghe and Jennifer Brady had far tougher outings, going down in straight sets to Marketa Vondrousova and Jelena Ostapenko respectively. Townsend’s successful first round win over Marie Bouzkova was testament to her composure, coming back from a frustrating first set to gain the upper hand in the second and run out victor, 3-6 6-4 6-3. 

Czech Republic had a similar day to the United States, with their winning form outnumbered by losses as Barbora Strycova joined Muchova and Bouzkova on the sideline after going down to qualifier, Victoria Azarenka, though Katerina Siniakova had better luck against Alison van Uytvanck. Siniakova was in for a tough one from the get-go, with the pair relatively evenly matched and showing in the tight first set, though the Czech had a stronger second set to bring some real momentum into the final set to win 6-7 6-2 6-4.

Among the winners were four more seeds, with eleventh seed Belinda Bencic reigning supreme over Anett Kontaveit and sixteenth seed Petra Martic defeating Latvian, Anastasija Sevastova. Both matches went to three sets with the former surpassing the two hour mark, while fourteenth seed Brit Johanna Konta had a much stronger win over Croatian, Donna Vekic. Aryna Sabelenka joined compatriot, Azarenka in the second round after a stellar second and third set saw her take a fairly solid win over Qiang Wang, 5-7 6-2 6-0, while fellow Chinese talents in Shuai Zhang and Saisai Zheng went down in identical results to their respective opposition in Dayana Yastremska and Julia Goerges. The final match of the day saw Elise Mertens put in the hard yards against Rebecca Peterson, but could not retain control after a stellar first set, eventually going down 7-6 0-6 6-4.

Tomorrow’s draw will see first seed Ash Barty join the fray while 2019 Madrid champion Kiki Bertens and competition favourite, Petra Kvitova will also be threatening 

ROUND OF 64 RESULTS:

[2] Simona Halep (ROU) defeated Coco Gauff (USA) 6-1 6-2
[3] Elina Svitolina (UKR) defeated Amanda Anisimova (USA) 6-4 1-6 6-4
[6] Naomi Osaka (JPN) defeated Karolina Muchova (CZE) 6-3 6-2
[Q] Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) defeated [8] Serena Williams (USA) 6-0 6-3
[10] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) defeated Qiang Wang (CHN) 5-7 6-2 6-0
[11] Belinda Bencic (SUI) defeated Anett Kontaveit (EST) 6-2 4-6 6-4
[14] Johanna Konta (GBR) defeated Donna Vekic (CRO) 6-4 6-3
[16] Petra Martic (CRO) defeated Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 1-6 6-4 6-1
Katerina Siniakova (CZE) defeated Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 6-7 6-2 6-4
Dayana Yastremska (UKR) defeated Shuai Zhang (CHN) 6-1 6-4
Julia Goerges (GER) defeated Saisai Zheng (CHN) 6-1 6-4
[Q] Victoria Azarenka (BLR) defeated Barbora Strycova (CZE) 2-6 6-2 6-2
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) defeated Jennifer Brady (USA) 6-2 6-2
[Q] Taylor Townsend (USA) defeated Marie Bouzkova (CZE) 3-6 6-4 6-3
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) defeated [Q] Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 6-0 6-4
Rebecca Peterson (SWE) defeated Elise Mertens (BEL) 7-6 0-6 6-4