Kerber, Konta set up Qatar clash, Bellis and Blinkova score upsets
DOHA, Qatar - No.8 seed Angelique Kerber and No.10 seed Johanna Konta set up an intriguing third-round clash at the Qatar Total Open with a pair of straightforward victories over two players with a strong career pedigree in Doha on Wednesday.
Kerber defeated 2012 Doha runner-up Samantha Stosur to close out the day's play on Court 1, 6-4, 6-1, in 59 minutes.
"I think the weather conditions were a little bit strange and tricky today. It was really windy. The sun was a little bit on court. At the end, I think it was for both of us like that," Kerber said. "I'm happy about the first round. I mean the first rounds are always tricky, especially for me, so that's why I think that it was a good match, good start of the tournament for me."
Earlier, Konta handled windy conditions admirably to see off 2016 champion Carla Suárez Navarro, 6-2, 6-2 in 81 minutes.
"I think conditions were just as tricky yesterday...however, it's quite unpredictable and it swirls around and doesn't always blow the same way," Konta told WTA Insider after the match. "On the outside courts...it's a challenge but everyone's facing it so most importantly is to just go out there, not to expect to play a pretty match as just get on with it and keep fighting.
"I'm feeling good...so far, I've had two straight-set matches. They weren't easy by any means but court-time wise, it hasn't been super long. I feel like I'm recovering well between the matches and am just looking forward to the next one."
There was other seeded success on Wednesday for No.9 seed Julia Goerges, who dropped the second set against Barbora Strycova only to advance in three, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
Later, No.13 seed Anastasija Sevastova pulled away late from Naomi Osaka to emerge a 6-4, 6-1 winner.
"I think the challenge was to get used to the circumstances you are having there, because it was pretty windy from one side, and if you have a tricky opponent, it doesn't make it easier," Goerges said.
"I'm actually very happy and proud of myself the way I handled the whole match."
However, it was a mixed day for the seeds overall, as CiCi Bellis, Anna Blinkova and Sorana Cirstea all scored victories over higher-ranked opposition to advance to the third round.
Bellis came from a set down to defeat No.12 seed and compatriot Madison Keys, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0; Blinkova scored her first-ever Top 20 win over No.11 seed Kristina Mladenovic, 6-3, 6-3; and Cirstea edged No.15 seed Elise Mertens, 7-5, 6-4.
In addition, Monica Niculescu came away the victor against the No.14 seed Magdalena Rybarikova when the Slovak was forced to retire in the decider with the Romanian leading, 6-7(6), 6-2, 3-0.
"I think maybe halfway into the second set it started shifting a bit. I think I got a little lucky on a few balls the wind took, and I think she shanked a few," Bellis, who won the last seven games of the match, said.
"I think that was big in the second set, and then the third I just really started to get a good rhythm, making a lot of first serves. She was attacking my first and second a lot in the first set, and then once I started making more first serves, that helped me a lot too."
