Montreal: Maria Sharapova fired 25 winners past hapless Russian compatriot Daria Kasatkina in a 6-0, 6-2 victory at the Montreal WTA tennis tournament here Wednesday, but Angelique Kerber’s first match since capturing the Wimbledon title ended in a sobering defeat.
Sharapova needed just 66 minutes to see off 12th-seeded Kasatkina in an impressive and timely display of big-hitting with the US Open getting underway in just under three weeks’ time.
“I came on court having a lot of respect for my opponent because she’s up and coming but has already established herself,” said the 31-year-old Sharapova. “I knew I had a tough match ahead of me. I was focused from the beginning and I finished it that way.”
World No.4 Kerber, playing for the first time since defeating Serena Williams in last month’s Wimbledon final, slumped to a 4-6, 1-6 loss to Alize Cornet of France. German left-hander Kerber committed 32 unforced errors against the 34th-ranked Cornet in her 85-minute second round exit. “It was my first match after three weeks now,” said Kerber. “It’s not always so easy to change the surface. I think I need a little bit more time to get used to hard courts again.”
Cornet’s next opponent is Australian 15th seed, Ashleigh Barty who defeated Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck 7-6(9/7), 6-2 while recently-married Czech ninth seed Karolina Pliskova suffered a 2-6, 2-6 defeat at the hands of Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.
Fifth seed and defending champion Elina Svitolina went through to the third round after in-form Romanian opponent Mihaela Buzarnescu was forced to retire with an ankle injury. Svitolina was leading 6-3, 6-7(5/7), 4-3 at that time.
US Open champion and third seed Sloane Stephens also made the third round by seeing off home hope Francoise Abanda 6-0, 6-2.
