A whole raft of big names exited yesterday in an entertaining day’s play. Thanks to Amazon’s multi court coverage I was spoilt for choice at times but did enjoy Naomi Osaka fighting back from the brink against Blinkova.
So the defending champ is safely through, but joining Sharapova and Angie Kerber amongst the former champs now no more is Sloane Stephens, dumped out by the world 127 Anna Kalinskaya. Vika Azarenka was also beaten, although she was up against 11th seed Sabalenka.
We also lost some favourites or at least picks to go far here: a poorly Dominic Thiem, Garbine Muguruza, Kyle Edmund, Roberto Bautista-Agut and most surprising of all Stefanos Tsitsipas. Felix Auger-Aliassime had no answer to his buddy Shapovalov in an unexpectedly dominant win for the older Canadian.
No dramas elsewhere as Nadal, Halep, Kyrgios, Kvitova, Bertens and Isner all prevailed.
Day 3 picks
Svitolina Vs Venus
Davis Vs Barty
Coric Vs Dimitrov
Wawrinka Vs Chardy
All Things Tennis 