Martic bows out in Prague but Mertens progresses

Kristyna Pliskova ended Petra Martic’s hopes of success in Prague, but the Croatian’s fellow seed Elise Mertens was victorious in round two.

Tennis Majors

August 12, 2020

Second seed Petra Martic was eliminated from the Prague Open in a straight-set defeat against Kristyna Pliskova, but Elise Mertens booked her place in the quarter-finals. World No. 69 Pliskova struck 28 winners to 13 unforced errors on home soil as she secured a 6-1 7-5 victory in one hour and 22 minutes.

The Czech wrapped up the opening set in just 21 minutes and Martic paid the price for passing up two opportunities to hold serve at 5-5 in the second. Pliskova, a runner-up in Prague in 2017, served out the match to set up a meeting with Ana Bogdan, who got a walkover after Lesia Tsurenko withdrew prior to their match.

.@KrisPliskova moves 🔛

She takes it over Martic, 6-1, 7-5. #PragueOpen2020 pic.twitter.com/WDFdee3zcc

— wta (@WTA) August 12, 2020

No day off for Halep

Mertens ensured that Simona Halep is not the only seed remaining in the draw, as she beat Camila Giorgi 6-4 6-2. Meanwhile, in matches pushed back from Tuesday Laura Siegemund and Tamara Zidansek wasted little time in wrapping up three-set victories over Mayar Sherif and Katerina Siniakova, respectively. It was not entirely an off day for Halep, though. The Romanian joined forces with Barbora Strycova for a doubles match against Veronika Kudermetova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova that ended in a 6-3, 3-6 10-8, loss.