BERLIN (AP) - Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and seventh-ranked Coco Gauff had upset losses to Russian gamers within the second spherical of the Berlin Open on Thursday.

Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion from Belarus, was crushed 6-2, 7-6 (2) by Veronika Kudermetova regardless of bettering after an error-strewn begin. Gauff misplaced 6-4, 6-0 to Ekaterina Alexandrova.

“For me it’s very important to play like that today,” Kudermetova mentioned. “I always believe in myself. I know I can play really well, and I always believe.”

Both Sabalenka and Gauff had been taking part in their first event on grass - and their first for the reason that French Open - whereas their Russian opponents reached the ultimate of the grass-court Libema Open within the Netherlands on Sunday, which Alexandrova received.

They will now have a rematch in Berlin for a spot within the semifinals in opposition to both Caroline Garcia or Petra Kvitova.

Gauff had the sting early on with a 3-1 lead within the first set earlier than shedding 11 of the subsequent 12 video games as Alexandrova dominated.

“Maybe the score looks easy, but it’s never like that because she played amazing,” mentioned Alexandrova, who received her seventh straight match. “I needed to stay focused during every single point to keep it that way. I’m just hoping I can keep this form as long as I can.”

Players from Russia and Belarus are returning to Wimbledon subsequent month after they had been barred final yr following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Maria Sakkari joined Garcia and Kvitova as one in all solely three seeded gamers within the quarterfinals as she beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-1 in just an hour. Sakkari subsequent performs Marketa Vondrousova, who superior when her opponent Jule Niemeier retired whereas shedding 6-3, 6-5 after injuring her wrist in a fall.

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