THE completion of both the Istanbul Open and Tennis Grand Prix fantasy Rounds of 32 saw plenty of interesting matchups, and with just two matches across both tournaments going to three sets, there is no doubt some big names will cross paths in future rounds.

At Stuttgart, reigning champion Petra Kvitova was just too strong against Slovakian qualifier, Tamara Zidansek, running her out in straight sets with an impeccable start gifting her the win. Zidansek to her credit did not give up however despite the ugly 6-0 first set, fighting back to take Kvitova to a tiebreaker in the second but eventually went down 6-0 7-5. Kvitova’s fellow top 10 seed in Belinda Bencic had a tougher time against wildcard Czech, Barbora Krejcikova but still came out on top with relative ease, testing Krejcikova’s precision and reigning supreme in the straight sets 6-4 6-3 win.

Just the one game went to three sets on day two, with an intriguing matchup between France’s Alize Cornet and Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. The Italian qualifier put Cornet through her paces, taking the first and third sets to tiebreakers but always seemed to be on the back foot – bar a stellar second set which she won with ease. Cornet proceeds to the next round with the 7-5 3-6 7-6 win but will need to step up if she intends on continuing at Stuttgart. Cornet’s compatriot Kristina Mladenovic had a tough challenge too but was unlucky to not continue her form after a solid first set, taking her Croatian opposition in Donna Vekic to a tiebreaker but unable to gain any ground in the second, going down 7-5 6-3.

In other games, Ukrainian Yulia Putintseva and Belgian, Elise Mertens were both far too strong for their respective opposition in Zarina Diyas and Andrea Petkovic. Both Putintseva and Mertens were clinical, downing their lower ranked competition in straight sets apiece with almost identical scorelines.

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It was a solid day for the United States at Istanbul, with Serena Williams predictably coming out on top with relative ease over compatriot, Usue Maitane Arconada, while fellow American Madison Keys also came home with a bang to win in straight sets against Russian, Anna Kalinskaya. Williams was predictable as ever with her hard hitting attack, and altogether just too much for for her 21-year-old opposition who was well and truly blown out of the water in the first set, unable to win a game until the second and going down 6-0 6-3. Keys had a challenge from Kalinskaya early with the Russian winning some early points before Keys settled, running out victor, 6-4 6-2.

Fellow seed Maria Sakkari also won in straight sets over her opposition in Katerina Siniakova but did not have it quite so easy, challenged all the way by the Czech. Sakkari had the upper hand early but Siniakova was not about to back down, contesting the first set and unlucky to not come home with the second after well and truly flipping the switch, going down in the tiebreaker 6-4 7-5. The only seed to not come home with a first round win waas eighth seed Russian, Veronika Kudermetova, who had a tough contest with Australian Ajla Tomljanovic. Both players lacked consistency and were unable to contest in a set apiece, making for a massive third set that would really be a set of who could outlast and apply better pressure. While Tomljanovic reigned supreme, winning the first and third sets, her inconsistency will need to be looked at prior to round two with the 6-0 0-6 6-3 win not one to brag about by any means. 

Tomljanovic’s compatriot in Priscilla Hon certainly did not have a game to be proud of, going down in straight sets to recent Bogota fantasy champion, Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Cocciaretto was phenomenal, applying constant and consistent pressure and did not allow a single game to be taken from her throughout, making her a real threat if she can keep up this level against better quality opposition.

In other games, Stefanie Voegele impressed against China’s Lin Zhu, while Daria Kasatkina  was challenged in the first but reigned supreme over wildcard Anna Schmiedlova in the second, and Danka Kovinic proved far too strong from qualifying Argentinian, Nadia Podroska.

In tomorrow’s Stuttgart draw, second seed Naomi Osaka joins the fray, while at Istanbul, young gun Iga Swiatek takes on sixth seed Amanda Anisimova in what will be a real test.

STUTTGART ROUND OF 32 RESULTS: 

[5] Belinda Bencic (SUI) defeated [WC] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) 6-4 6-3
[7] Petra Kvitova (CZE) defeated [Q] Tamara Zidansek (SLO) 6-0 7-5
Yulia Putintseva (UKR) defeated [Q] Zarina Diyas (KAZ) 6-2 6-3
Alize Cornet (FRA) defeated [Q] Jasmine Paolini (ITA) 7-5 3-6 7-6
Elise Mertens (BEL) defeated [WC] Andrea Petkovic (GER) 6-1 6-3
Donna Vekic (CRO) defeated Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 7-5 6-3

ISTANBUL ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[1] Serena Williams (USA) defeated [Q] Usue Maitane Arconada (USA) 6-0 6-3
[4] Madison Keys (USA) defeated Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) 6-4 6-2
[5] Maria Sakkari (GRE) defeated Katerina Siniakova (CZE) 6-4 7-5
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) defeated [8] Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 6-0 0-6 6-3
Danka Kovinic (MON) defeated [Q] Nadia Podroska (ARG) 6-4 6-2
Darya Kasatkina (RUS) defeated [WC] Anna Schmiedlova (SVK) 7-5 6-3
Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) defeated [Q] Priscilla Hon (AUS) 6-0 6-0
Stefanie Voegele (SUI) defeated Lin Zhu (CHN) 6-1 6-2