In a surprising turn of events at the WTA 500 Guadalajara Open Akron presented by Santander, Maria Sakkari, the defending champion of the tournament, was eliminated in the first round by French player Elsa Jacquemot. The match concluded with a decisive scoreline of 6-2, 6-0, spanning just 76 minutes. Sakkari, ranked 55th in the world, struggled throughout the match and was visibly frustrated, even disposing of her racket in anger during the second set.
The match, which began the previous evening, was paused due to rain after Jacquemot had established a 4-1 lead in the first set. Upon resumption, Jacquemot quickly secured the first set and continued her dominance in the second. The victory now sets her up to face top seed Elise Mertens from Belgium in the next round, as Mertens received a first-round bye.
Meanwhile, the Canadian contingent saw mixed results, with Rebecca Marino advancing after a 6-2, 6-3 win over Italian wild-card Martina Trevisan. Marino, currently ranked 121, displayed her powerful serve by firing off 11 aces compared to Trevisan’s solitary ace. Marino capitalized on her opportunities, breaking serve five times.
Marino’s next challenge will be against Germany’s Tatjana Maria, the 6th seed, who defeated Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez in a straight-set victory of 6-4, 6-2. Maria, ranked 51, is striving for her second title of the season, following her triumph at The Queen’s Club.
In another highlight, 20-year-old Marina Stakusic progressed after an intense three-set match against Polina Kudermetova. Stakusic fought back from a set down, winning 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 after nearly two and a half hours of play. Notably, Kudermetova was within two points of victory in the second set before the Canadian pulled off a remarkable comeback. Stakusic will next face 3rd seed Jelena Ostapenko.
Colombian player Camila Osorio also advanced convincingly, overcoming Kamilla Rakhimova in straight sets, 7-5, 7-5. This match marked Osorio’s fifth consecutive victory over Rakhimova, showcasing her ability to perform under pressure. Following her match, Osorio expressed her satisfaction with her patience and strategic approach throughout the contest.
Emiliana Arango, another Colombian, capitalized on a fortunate opportunity to move forward after 5th seed Magda Linette retired due to a left knee injury while trailing 6-0. Arango’s next opponent will be Australia’s Storm Hunter, who edged past Katerina Siniakova in a tightly contested three-set match.
As the tournament advances, anticipation builds for upcoming matchups, particularly the contests involving the remaining top seeds and rising talents making their mark in Guadalajara.
