Karolina Pliskova and Sofia Kenin, the number one and two on the women’s placement list at the prestigious Cincinnati tournament, have already been eliminated in the second round on Sunday.

Pliskova, who had a bye in the first round, had to bow to the Russian Veronika Kudermetova in her first appearance in New York: 5-7 and 4-6. The 28-year-old Czech (WTA-3) suffered no fewer than thirteen breakpoints and hit nine double errors.

21-year-old Kenin also fell ingloriously. The American, who won the Australian Open at the beginning of this year and can call herself the number four in the world, lost in two sets to the French Alizé Cornet: 1-6 and 6-7 (7).

The elimination of Pliskova and Kenin has further devalued the field of participants among women. Many players from the top ten, including Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep and Kiki Bertens, because of the corona pandemic decided not to travel to the United States.

Serena Williams is now the highest-ranked player on the main schedule. The 38-year-old American will play on Monday around 7 p.m. in the second round against Arantxa Rus, the only Dutchman who competes in singles in the Western & Southern Open and the US Open. Rus settled in the first round with the Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck.

The Cincinnati WTA tournament will be held once in New York and is a preparation for the US Open. The Grand Slam tournament kicks off at Flushing Meadows in exactly one week and will run through September 13.