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Barbora Krejcikova was among the early winners on Friday at the Mutua Madrid Open. The Czech, seeded 11th took her place in the third round with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 victory over Danka Kovinic. Krejcikova needed two hours and 19 minutes to wrap up the match against the Montenegrin.
Both players struggled to come up with points, especially on their second serve, in the first set. Krejcikova won 30% of her second-serve points while Kovinic won 33%. Krejcikova converted four break points and held on to long enough to go up in the match.
In the second set, Kovinic saved all four break points she faced and converted the lone break that came her way on Krejcikova’s serve. The deciding set tilted completely in favour of the 2021 Roland Garros winner. Krejcikova won all eight points played on her first serve while winning 12 of 17 points on return on her opponent’s first serve.
She didn’t face any break point but converted three of six break points to keep herself alive in the competition.
Mutua Madrid Open: Elena Rybakina's ouster
Daria Kasatkina was another higher-seeded player who made it to the third round.
The eighth seed took an hour and 34 minutes to secure a 6-4, 6-3 win over the 2021 Roland Garros runner-up. Kasatkina won 66% of her first-serve points to Pavlyuchenkova’s 50% and converted five break points on the latter’s serve.
She also saved three of six break points she faced. Meanwhile, the biggest shocker of the Mutua Madrid Open came at the hands of Anna Kalinskaya. The 24-year-old toppled seventh seed Elena Rybakina in their second-round clash.
After two hours and 13 minutes, Kalinskaya prevailed 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. Unforced errors proved to be Rybakina’s downfall in the match even as Kalinskaya’s shot-making was measured and kept her ahead during the proceedings.
Kalinskaya saved 10 of the 12 break points she faced while converting five of nine break points on the Kazakh’s serve. Photo Credit: Mutua Madrid Open Twitter 