Carla Suarez Navarro has suffered a shock 6-4, 6-4, loss in the first round of the Japan Open to Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko.
The world number 12 experienced trouble with her serve throughout the match as she was broken six times by Bondarenko. The most troublesome part for Suarez Navarro was her second serve as she could only win 30% of her second service points during the encounter.
Throughout the match the Spaniard was unable to capitalize on the opportunities given to her from her at times visibly nervous opponent. In the first set she was trailing 3-5, before breaking back and had a chance to level at 5-5. Bonderenko on the other hand remained more consistent on the court as she finally broke to take the first set due to a backhand slice from Suarez Navarro which went wide. A familiar scenario happened again towards the end of the second set. Trailing 3-5, the top seed broke back to put proceedings to serve. Bondarenko then struck once again as she quickly opened up a 0-40 deficit in her favour, giving her three match points. The Ukrainian took the title with her first match point, returning a serve down the line.
The defeat is Suarez Navarro’s eighth consecutive loss on the WTA Tour. She hasn’t won a match since June in Birmingham when she beat Svetlana Kuznetsova. Despite being ranked 73 places higher than Bondarenko, the Spanish number 2 has won fewer matches this year.
The win for Bondarenko is her third victory over a top 50 player in 2015. She has also beaten Alison Riske and stunned Venus Williams in the first round of the Istanbul Open. The 29-year-old retired from the tour in 2012 but returned in 2014 after having a baby. Her highest ranking was 29 in 2009. Her biggest Grand Slam achievement was reaching the quarter-finals of the 2009 US Open.
