Upsets continue as heat rises in Australia
Muguruza, Konta latest to bow out of women’s draw
MELBOURNE, Australia — Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza struggled with the heat and against Hsieh Su-wei’s game, losing 7-6 (1), 6-4 on Day 4 as the upsets intensified at the Australian Open.
No. 3-ranked Muguruza was the highest-ranked player to fall so far, but follows Venus Williams and U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens out of the tournament in the first week.
Muguruza had five double-faults, including one to give Hsieh a match point, and made 43 unforced errors. She needed a medical timeout in the first set, and accidentally hit a ball into a line judge in frustration.
Considered one of the contenders for the title after Serena Williams opted against defending her Australian title, Muguruza had a troubled preparation.
She retired with cramps in the second round at the Brisbane International and withdrew before her quarter-final at Sydney because of a right thigh injury.
With a forecast high of 39 C, Maria Sharapova appeared to be in a hurry to get off the Rod Laver Arena court in her earlier match, winning the first set in 23 minutes.
The five-time major winner advanced to the third round with a 6-1, 7-6 (4) win over No. 14-seed Anastasija Sevastova.
“It’s a warm day. I did my job in two sets against someone that’s been troubling in the past for me,” said Sharapova, who missed last year’s tournament while serving a 15-month doping ban.
“So third round of the Australian Open, I don’t know, I think I deserve to smile out there after that victory.”
Ninth-seeded Johanna Konta was more exposed to the heat on an outside court, and lost to U.S. lucky loser Bernarda Pera 6-4, 7-5.
No. 123-ranked Pera is making her Grand Slam debut and, after losing in the last round of qualifying, didn’t even know she had a spot in the main draw until Monday when Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan withdrew with an injury.
“It feels amazing,” Pera said. “I was ready to leave on Monday and then they told me I’m in, so I was obviously excited. I was checking the tickets to fly back. I’m happy I didn’t buy one.”
Pera will next play No. 20 Barbora Strycova, who beat Lara Arruabarrena 6-3, 6-4.
Also advancing were No. 8 Caroline Garcia, who beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-7 (3), 6-2, 8-6, and No. 26 Agnieszka Radwanska, who next plays Hsieh.
Lauren Davis beat Andrea Petkovic 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 and has a potential third-round match against topranked Simon Halep, who was playing Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard later Thursday.
Former No. 1-ranked Karolina Pliskova dropped only a game in each set of a win over Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Sam Querrey was the latest of the leading U.S. men eliminated when he lost his second-round match 6-4, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-2 to 80th-ranked Marton Fucsovics.
No. 8 Jack Sock and No. 16 John Isner also went out in the first round.
No. 5 Dominic Thiem rallied from two sets down to defeat 190th-ranked American qualifier Denis Kudla 6-7 (6), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in the second round. No. 21 Albert Ramos beat another American, wild-card entry Tim Smyczek 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (2).