Kvitova and Konta exit Charleston

Upsets came thick and fast in Charleston as the second round reached its conclusion.

Normally a Pliskova victory over Kvitova wouldn’t raise too many eyebrows, but this all Czech battle was between the second seed and the other twin, Kristyna Pliskova, currently ranked 77 in the world.

Petra opened well in the first set, creating a dozen break points and converting four of them for a 6-1 lead.

Kristyna then smashed the Kvitova second serve in set two, while not having her serve threatened.  15 of the 19 points from Petra’s second delivery were captured by Kristyna and she levelled the match at 1-6 6-1.

Pliskova continued her serving superiority in the decider, breaking twice, and dropping her own serve just the once.  Kristyna’s more highly credentialed sister may have elected to bypass the Volvo Car Open, but the Pliskova name has been well represented and is now into the third round, the victory 1-6 6-1 6-3.

Other surprises:

Hungarian qualifier Fanny Stollar, ranked 219, defeated Johanna Konta (6) 6-3 6-4

Wildcard Sara Errani, once a Roland Garros finalist, but now ranked 95, defeated Mihaela Buzarnescu (15) 3-6 7-6(5) 6-2

Camila Giorgi defeated Daria Gavrilova (11) 6-2 2-6 6-3

Meanwhile other seeds cruised (with some exceptions) into the final 16:

Kiki Bertens (12) defeated Aleksandra Krunic 6-4 6-2

She will play Fanny Stollar in the third round

Madison Keys (7) defeated Lara Arruabarrena 6-1 3-6 6-3

She will play Camila Giorgi in the third round

Julia Goerges (5) defeated Kristie Ahn 2-6 6-4 7-6(1)

She will play Naomi Osaka in the third round

Naomi Osaka (10) defeated Laura Siegemund 6-3 7-6(8)

Irina-Camelia Begu (13) defeated qualifier Claire Liu 6-4 6-2

She will play Daria Kasatkina in the third round

Anastasija Sevastova (8) defeated qualifier Caroline Dolehide 7-5 6-7(5) 6-1

She will play Ash Barty in the third round 

Ash Barty (9) defeated Tatjana Maria 4-6 6-3 6-2

Elena Vesnina (16) defeated Taylor Townsend 6-4 6-1

She will play Kristyna Pliskova in the third round

Rain is stalling progress in Monterrey, and no second round matches have been completed.

One match had started before the weather compromised things - Ana Bogdan leads Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2 4-3.