THE first half of the WTA Volvo Car Open fantasy Round of 32 results are in, with the biggest scalps ultimately being Yulia Putintseva‘s come-from-behind win against Serena Williams and wildcard pole, Iga Swiatek‘s straight sets victory over second seed Simona Halep. All other top seeds pulled through, with four coming in straight sets.

Putintseva had a slow start against the Grand Slam champion in Williams but proved she is not one to give up easily, coming back from a 1-6 first set to collect the second set 6-4 before overcoming a tie-break in the final set for the biggest win of her career so far. Williams showed her class and finishing ability in the first set all but blowing Putintseva out of the water, before the 25-year-old showed some real determination to fight to the finish against the American veteran.

Swiatek’s victory went much differently, with Halep outclassed from the get-go, unable to apply pressure to the 18-year-old and going down 6-3 6-4. It was the Polish young-gun’s athleticism that kept her ahead of Halep, forcing errors from the usually clinical Romanian. Where Halep and Williams fell to their younger opposition, Kiki Bertens, Garbine Muguruza, Petra Kvitova and Petra Martic all reigned supreme over their respective competition, with Kvitova collecting a 60 minute stunner, 6-4 6-0, against Veronica Kudermetova. Kudermetova well and truly held her own early but could not compete when Kvitova cam out fighting in the second set, dominating the Russian.

In other matches, Karolina Pliskova was her usual domineering self, defeating Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets, while Belinda Bencic was taken to a third set tie-breaker by American qualifier, Bernarda Pera but finished well to knock another American out of the race.

Tomorrow’s draw will see world number one Ash Barty take the court along with fellow grand slam winners, Sofia Kenin and Naomi Osaka, taking on plenty of young talent coming up through the ranks.

ROUND OF 32 RESULTS:

[WC] Iga Swiatek (POL) defeated [2] Simona Halep (ROU) 6-3 6-4
[4] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) defeated Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 6-4 6-4
[6] Kiki Bertens (NED) defeated Anett Kontaveit (EST) 6-3 7-6
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) defeated [8] Serena Williams (USA) 1-6 6-4 7-5
[10] Belinda Bencic (SUI) defeated [Q] Bernarda Pera (USA) 6-4 4-6 7-5
[11] Garbine Muguruza (ESP) defeated Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 6-4 6-4
[13] Petra Kvitova (CZE) defeated Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) 6-4 6-0
[15] Petra Martic (CRO) defeated Maria Sakkari (GER) 4-6 6-2 7-6