Virus-hit Muguruza and Sloane make early exits
beijing — World number one Garbine Muguruza retired ill with a virus in the first round of the China Open on Monday and US Open winner Sloane Stephens went out in a shock defeat.
Spain’s Muguruza suggested in the build-up that she was not fully fit after a leg injury and she lost the first set 6-1 to unseeded Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic.
Muguruza, 23, the reigning Wimbledon champion, called a medical timeout at 2-0 down in the second set and then called it quits after having her pulse taken on the side of the court.
Muguruza said afterwards she had been too unwell even to practise for her opener but had been determined to play, having lost in the quarterfinals last week in Wuhan.
“Since I’m in Beijing, I didn’t play at all. I don’t know, I got a virus in Wuhan,” she said.
“I want to feel like giving the last chance, going on the court, just hit a few balls, see how I’m going to feel, try to turn things around.
“I don’t want to retire before the tournament starts for me.”
Muguruza, yet to win a tournament since reaching the top ranking in mid-September, added: “It’s good that I could play on Monday, I had more days to rest.
“But in fact, I couldn’t perform today.”
Stephens meanwhile tumbled out in the first round for the second week running, this time at the hands of qualifier Christina McHale.
The 15th seed Stephens, wearing all pink, saw her match delayed by rain falling on Beijing’s outdoor hardcourts.
When it finally got started she failed to fire, going out to her fellow American with a whimper, 6-3, 6-0 in just 62 minutes.
The loss extends Stephens’ poor run after sealing her first Grand Slam last month.
Last week the 24-year-old similarly fell at the first hurdle, losing to China’s Wang Qiang in the opening round of the Wuhan Open.
Stephens, ranked 17 in the world to McHale’s 79, refused to make any excuses during a postmatch press conference lasting less than 90 seconds.
“Tough day, not really much to say,” she said.
“Obviously not a great match so just forget about it and move on,
At the end I was pleased with the way I served and how I played Marin Cilic
try to have a better level for the next tournament (Hong Kong).”
Asked if the delayed start for rain disrupted her, she said: “Yes, but it affects both players, so... I mean, she obviously just handled it a little bit better.”
Meanwhile in Tokyo, top seed Marin Cilic made quick work of Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas on Monday, winning 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round of the Japan Open.
The towering Croatian, runnerup to Roger Federer at this year’s Wimbledon, took just 73 minutes to complete a one-sided victory in Tokyo against a player ranked 110 places below him.
World number five Cilic, a former US Open champion, rifled eight aces and totally dominated on serve on a speedy hardcourt surface that suits his power game.
“He’s a good player, an upcoming star of men’s tennis, who forced me to find my best level and a good rhythm,” said Cilic, who won 24 of his 29 first service points and is looking to cement his place at the season-ending ATP Tour Finals in London.
“At the end I was pleased with the way I served and how I played,” added Cilic, a semifinalist in Tokyo last year.
South African Kevin Anderson, who was beaten by Rafa Nadal in the US Open final last month, also advanced in straight sets, ousting Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-2, 7-6.
Fifth seed Anderson cracked 17 aces as he set up a meeting with American Ryan Harrison, a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 winner over teenage Japanese qualifier Yusuke Takahashi.
Elsewhere, controversial Australian Bernard Tomic recovered from a wobble to beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in his first match since June, while Frenchman Adrian Mannarino dumped out another local favourite, Go Soeda, 7-5, 7-6.
The Japan Open has been played since 1972 and its previous winners include a roll-call of the game’s greats, including Ken Rosewall, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Federer and Nadal. —