At the WTA Premier Mandatory Tournament in Beijing, some of the favourites already had to fight at the start. Three players, including Julia Görges, are already in the round of sixteen.
Donna Vekic against Anastasija Sevastova is basically an eighth-final of high sporting value. The still young Croatian has improved a lot in 2018 and is already in 38th place in the WTA World Ranking. Sevastova, on the other hand, reached a semi-final of a Grand Slam tournament at the US Open for the first time, but lost there against Serena Williams.
But actually Simona Halep and Madison Keys should have been at the respective positions of the tableau of the WTA-Premier-Mandatory-Tournament in Beijing. Halep, the world number one, but had to give up in round one against Ons Jabeur after losing the first set. Vekic gladly took the opportunity to beat the Tunisian in two sets. Sevastova, on the other hand, did not have to play in round two at all, opponent Keys gave the first serve from above.
This means that the last big event before the WTA final in Singapore will be similar to the Premier 5 event last week in Wuhan: with a series of early surprises. After all: US Open winner Naomi Osaka has reached the second round after winning against Zarina Dyas. Osaka could face Julia Görges on Wednesday, if they win against Danielle Collins.
Caroline Garcia, victorious in Beijing a year ago, and Sloane Stephens also felt that the season was long and hard. But both could save themselves over the distance.
Here the single tableau of the ladies in Peking