WTA Wuhan Open: Maria Sharapova shocked by Timea Bacsinszky in China
Wednesday 24 September 2014 23:06, UK
Maria Sharapova lost in straight sets to become the latest seed to crash out of the WTA Wuhan Open.
The Russian fourth seed lost 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 to Swiss qualifier Timea Bacsinszky in the third round on Wednesday, despite twice being a break up in the second set and leading 3-1 early on.
Her defeat follows the exits the day before of other seeds Simona Halep, Sara Errani, Ekaterina Makarova, Jelena Jankovic and Andrea Petkovic, while top seed Serena Williams also withdrew through illness.
However, the four other seeds left in the tournament - Petra Kvitova, Eugenie Bouchard, Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki – all progressed.
German seventh seed Kerber beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1 6-1, but things were harder for third seed Kvitova, who had to come from behind to battle past her Czech compatriot Karolina Pliskova 6-3 2-6 6-4.
Danish eighth seed Wozniacki – the recent US Open runner-up – continued her good form with a 6-0 6-3 victory over Australia’s Casey Dellacqua, while sixth seed Bouchard, of Canada, also progressed, defeating Alison Riske of the United States 6-2 6-3.
Others to also win their third round matches were France’s Alize Cornet, who beat Belgium wildcard Kirsten Flipkens 7-6 (7-4) 1-6 6-3, while Cornet’s compatriot Caroline Garcia defeated US player Coco Vandeweghe 6-3 6-2.
Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine progressed via a walkover against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza Blanco, who had beaten Halep the day before but had to withdraw because of gastritis.
