BERLIN (AP) — Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and seventh-ranked Coco Gauff had upset losses to Russian players in the second round of the Berlin Open on Thursday.
Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion from Belarus, was beaten 6-2, 7-6 (2) by Veronika Kudermetova despite improving after an error-strewn start. Gauff lost 6-4, 6-0 to Ekaterina Alexandrova.
"For me it's very important to play like that today," Kudermetova said. "I always believe in myself. I know I can play really well, and I always believe."
Both Sabalenka and Gauff were playing their first tournament on grass — and their first since the French Open — while their Russian opponents reached the final of the grass-court Libema Open in the Netherlands on Sunday, which Alexandrova won.
They will now have a rematch in Berlin for a place in the semifinals against either Caroline Garcia or Petra Kvitova.