Guadalajara (Mexico) – Finalist in San Diego last Saturday, Sofia Kenin took advantage of the good time on the circuit and started with a victory at the WTA 1000 in Guadalajara. The North American beat Canadian qualifier Carol Zhao by 6/4 and 6/3 in just 1h22 of play this Monday.

Kenin recovered 40 positions in the rankings thanks to his good campaign in San Diego and appears this week in 53rd place. The former world number 4 and 2020 Australian Open champion has suffered from injuries and health problems in recent seasons, and was ranked 280th in January. Her next opponent will be the Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, 28th in the world.

We continue 👋@SofiaKenin beats Zhao, 6-4, 6-3.#GDLOpenAKRON pic.twitter.com/Sgw3aNOe4z

– wta (@WTA) September 19, 2023

At the start of the second round, Karolina Pliskova was overtaken by the American Hailey Baptiste, 21 years old, only 174th in the ranking, by 7/6 (7-5), 5/7 and 7/6 (7-4). ) in a long match of 2h52. This is Baptiste’s second victory over Pliskova, repeating the result achieved in Washington last month.

The match had its ups and downs, with 11 breaks of serve, 6-5 for Pliskova and 20 break points played. After winning the first set in the tie-break, Baptiste led the second set by 5/3. She committed three double faults while serving in the match and allowed the Czech to react, which tied the set. The former number 1 opened 5/2 in the last set and had a match point, but the young American recovered and won in another tie-break.

Guaranteed in the round of 16, Baptiste can face the French Caroline Garcia, third seed and number 11 in the ranking or the Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 89th. Pliskova, who currently sits 36th in the rankings at age 31, suffered another early elimination. In recent weeks, the Czech stopped in the second round of the US Open and her debut in San Diego.

Kudermetova has work to do against Bouchard
The one who avoided early elimination was Veronika Kudermetova, seeded seventh and 19th, who needed three sets and 2h50 to beat Canadian guest Eugénie Bouchard 6/2, 6/7 (4-7) and 6 /4. A The Russian could face Victoria Azarenka or Dayana Yastremska.

Potapova and Paolini also eliminated

Big victory for the Colombian 💪@EmilianaArango eliminates seed No. 11 Potapova in straight sets!#GDLOpenAKRON pic.twitter.com/D8mJzO4qz9

– wta (@WTA) September 18, 2023

Anastasia Potapova, 11th seed in Mexico and 26th in the rankings, did not advance through the first round. The Russian lost to the Colombian Emiliana Arango, only 180th, by 6/4 and 6/3. Arango will be the rival of the American Sloane Stephens, who beat her compatriot Ann Li on Sunday by 7/5 and 6/4.

Another seed eliminated in the second round was Jasmine Paolini, 35th in the world, beaten by Martina Trevisan, 54th, in an Italian duel by 7/5 and 6/2. Trévisan could face Tunisian Ons Jabeur, top seed, or American Alycia Parks.