Madrid, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) – Ana Ivanovic prevailed in her opening-
round match but Ekaterina Makarova was an upset victim as play commenced
Saturday at the Madrid Open.
The seventh-seeded Ivanovic was leading in the third set against wild card
Alexandra Dulgheru when the Romanian retired with Ivanovic owning a 2-6, 7-6
(7-1), 4-0 lead.
Makarova, seeded eighth in this clay-court WTA Premier Mandatory event, was
trounced by two-time Grand Slam champion and fellow Russian Svetlana
Kuznetsova by a 6-2, 6-1 count.
Ninth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and No. 13 Lucie Safarova each won their
first-round bouts in straight sets, with Radwanska topping wild card Lara
Arruabarrena 6-4, 6-3 and Safarova posting a 6-4, 6-2 decision over American
Alison Riske.
Other opening day victors on Saturday included Kaia Kanepi, Casey Dellacqua,
Irina-Camelia Begu and Sloane Stephens, who bested fellow American Bethanie
Mattek-Sands 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Top-seeded Serena Williams and defending champion Maria Sharapova highlight
Sunday’s first-round participants. Williams, who titled here in 2013 and 2014,
will take on American Madison Brengle. Sharapova, seeded third behind Williams
and Simona Halep, will square off against Timea Bacsinszky.
