Serena Williams’ doubles run at the WTA 500 Berlin Tennis Open came to an early end Tuesday, as she and Czechia’s Karolina Muchova were knocked out in the opening round.
The unseeded duo lost to New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe and Mexico’s Giuliana Olmos by a score of 6-4, 6-4. For Williams, the defeat came in just her second tournament back since announcing her return to professional tennis.
Muchova had better luck on the singles court, however. Seeded seventh, she cruised past China’s Shuai Zhang 6-1, 6-3. Ukraine’s sixth-seeded Elina Svitolina was in firm control against Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, leading 6-1, 4-1, when Kalinskaya withdrew from the match. Czech eighth seed Linda Noskova also advanced, defeating Mexico’s Renata Zarazua 6-1, 6-4.
American Madison Keys, along with France’s Diane Parry, Spain’s Paula Badosa, Czechia’s Katerina Siniakova, and Germany’s Eva Lys, each picked up first-round victories in straight sets.
Meanwhile, at the Lexus Nottingham Open in the United Kingdom, Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez pulled off a notable upset, eliminating second-seeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 7-6 (1). Sonmez had to fight through two qualifying matches just to earn a spot in the main draw.
Two other seeded players also fell in the first round at Nottingham. Eighth seed McCartney Kessler lost to fellow American Katie Volynets 6-3, 6-3, while 11th seed Sara Bejlek dropped a three-set match to compatriot Karolina Pliskova 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
Fifth seed Ann Li survived a tough three-set battle against Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, winning 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4. Caty McNally, Great Britain’s Hannah Klugman, and Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska all advanced in straight sets, while Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic needed three sets to get past Sofia Kenin.
