The Saturday night session of the Madrid Open was one filled with misery for a duo of players that have previously won grand slam titles.
Venus Williams became the first seed to exit this year’s tournament after getting edged out by a gutsy Anett Kontaveit 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. The former finalist at the Caja Magica struggled to find consistency in her game as the match progressed. Hitting 31 winners to 20 unforced errors. In contrast, Kontaveit’s all or nothing approach got her the win. Despite hitting an even amount of winners and errors at 42 apiece.
“I’d lost to her two times already, and so I had nothing to lose,” she told wtatennis.com. “I didn’t go out there feeling scared. I do feel like I can challenge anybody here, so I was feeling good to go on the court. It was tough today because she’s a big hitter, but I didn’t feel tired from Stuttgart. I went home, rested, and was able to start over again.”
The loss continues Williams’ poor record in Madrid in recent years. Since 2011, she has only played in the tournament three times. Winning just one main draw match. Williams best ever Madrid run was runner-up to Aravane Rezaï eight years ago.
22-year-old Kontaveit has now achieved her first ever win over the American and only her fourth victory over a top 10 player. She currently lies 29th in the world rankings, two spots adrift of her ranking best set last year.
Awaiting the Estonian, who has one WTA title to her name, will be either Aliaksandra Sasnovich or qualifier Danielle Collins. Two players she is positive about facing later in the week.
“Last year, I was just coming up and everything was so new, and this year is a totally different situation. I have this little bit of experience and I’m just trying to take it very easy, match by match. I’m feeling really free and ready to challenge anybody, and I’m liking clay a lot again.” She said.
French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko was another high profile casualty. Against two-time Madrid Open quarter-finalist Irina-Camelia Begu, the fifth seed slummed to a 6-3, 6-3 loss. Producing a total of 39 unforced errors, it is the fifth time time this year the Latvian has lost her opening match in a tournament.
Begu will next take on either Prague Open runner-up Mihaela Buzărnescu or Maria Sharapova.
