STUTTGART: Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova stunned seventh seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the first round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart on Tuesday.

The world number 43 triumphed 6-2, 6-4 against the Polish former Wimbledon finalist, and will play fellow Russian Maria Sharapova in round two if the former world number one progresses as she makes a controversial return from a 15-month doping suspension.

Earlier on Tuesday, Barbora Strycova set up a second-round match against world number five Simona Halep by beating American Jennifer Brady 6-2, 6-2.

Eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia defeated Holland’s Kiki Bertens 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 and will next take on German wild card Laura Siegemund, who saw off China’s Shuai Zhang 6-2 7-6 (7-4).

Estonian Anett Kontaveit beat Croatia’s Ana Konjuh 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 to book a second-round date with Spain’s world number six Garbine Muguruza.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2017