Strong Bertens opens with victory at WTA Rabat

Kiki Bertens (WTA-97) has made a strong start in the WTA tournament in Rabat. Holland’s number one easily beat the world number 34, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova: 6-0, 6-1.

The Slovakian was third seed on the Moroccan clay, but is having a dire 2016. She lost her last eight matches and this season counts only two wins.

Bertens now has three successive wins against top 50 players so far, after outplaying both Caroline Garcia (WTA-45) and Kristina Mladenovic (WTA-28) in the semi-finals of the Fed Cup.

Bertens, who won her only WTA title on Moroccan clay in Fès in 2012, dominated in her match against Schmiedlova, taking a 2-1 lead in their head to head contest. 

Bertens cleared two break points in the opening set and then she took over. To date the player from Wateringen has played 32 matches in 2016 (qualification tournaments, WTA main schedules and Fed Cup) and won no less than 24.

She will most probably meet Laura Siegemund (WTA-42) in the second round. Siegemund revealed her form at the WTA-tournament in Stuttgart where she reached the final and beat three top 10 players. The German has to beat wildcard player Ons Jabeur (WTA-215) from Tunesia.

Hogenkamp undermined

Richel Ho genkamp did not succeed in qualifying for the main tournament in Rabat. In the last qualification round the player from Doetinchem had no chance against Kaia Kanepie (WTA-179). The former world number 1 from Estonia won the match,  6-3, 6-0.