Harriet Dart faced an early exit at the Eastbourne Open on Tuesday, falling to Zeynep Sonmez with a score of 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. This match was particularly disappointing for Dart, who had recently enjoyed success by clinching the women’s doubles title at the Nottingham Open alongside Maia Lumsden.
Dart began the match on a strong note, breaking Sonmez’s serve three times during the first set while also recording six aces. However, Sonmez showcased her resilience by saving two break points in the second set, going on to win four consecutive games to tie the match.
The decisive final set turned into a gripping contest, characterized by seven breaks of serve. At one point, Dart led 5-3 and was serving to win the match, but Sonmez proved tenacious. Meanwhile, Sara Bejrek, the world No. 54, managed to rally from behind to secure a draw with Dart, underscoring the competitive nature of the tournament.
Another British player, Alicia Deudney, was granted a wildcard but encountered several setbacks, including a straight-set loss to world No. 48 Jessica Buzas Maneiro. The fourth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova also faced a surprising defeat, losing 6-3, 7-6 to world No. 73 Kimberly Birrell. Adding to the drama, top seed Jasmine Paolini was eliminated after a shock loss to world No. 112 Tatiana Maria.
Arthur Ferry progresses to the second round
Britain’s Arthur Ferry advanced to the second round of the Eastbourne Open after a thrilling match against Argentina’s Roman Andres Burruchaga, winning 6-2, 4-7, 7-5. With this victory, Ferry joined six other players, including Jan Choynski and Jack Draper, in reaching the round of 16 for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Ferry dominated the opening set, quickly taking a 3-0 lead and ultimately winning 6-2. However, Burruchaga responded in the second set by breaking Ferry to claim a 4-3 lead. Despite facing three set points, Ferry managed to regain his composure, but Burruchaga ultimately took the set. In a dramatic final set, Burruchaga initially led 5-3, but a determined Ferry fought back to win the last two games and secure the match.
Naomi Osaka advances at Bad Homburg Open
In a show of dominance, Naomi Osaka defeated Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the Bad Homburg Open. This victory, achieved in just one hour and seven minutes, saw Osaka break Mertens early in the first set and maintain control throughout the match.
With a 4-2 lead in the second set, Osaka broke Mertens again in the final game, sealing her progress to the next round. She is set to face either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Mila Andreeva in her upcoming matchup. Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina encountered challenges as she battled through three sets against Liudmila Samsonova. Although Svitolina initially trailed, she rallied back to force a deciding set but ultimately fell short, finishing with scores of 6-3, 3-6, 2-6.
Stefanos Tsitsipas struggles in Mallorca
Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a defeat to Peru’s Ignacio Buse, losing 7-6, 7-4, 6-3 in the Round of 32 at the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Mallorca Championships. In a baffling moment during the match, Tsitsipas stopped play to complain to the referee about the quality of the tennis balls being used.
This challenging year for the former world No. 3 has seen him tumble to 88th in the ATP Tour Rankings, prompting questions about his form. For fans, Sky Sports offers over 50% more live sports coverage this year, broadcasting the ATP and WTA Tours, available for streaming on the NOW and Sky Sports apps.
