The Chan sisters failed to survive a second-set meltdown at the Swedish Open in Bastad yesterday as the top seeds crashed out in the quarter-finals.
Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan, the world No. 34 and No. 22 in the doubles rankings, were stunned 5-7, 6-1, 10-8 by world No. 84 Tatjana Maria and world No. 59 Olga Savchuk on the Scandinavian clay courts.
The Taiwanese duo saved seven of nine break points and converted three of six to take the first set, but their German-Ukrainian opponents then saved all three break points they faced in the second set and converted three of six to level the quarter-final at one set each.
The Chan sisters then produced two double faults in the super tiebreak as their opponents went on to complete the victory in 1 hour, 39 minutes, while the favorites for the title exited in their second match.
Maria and Savchuk next face a semi-final against either third seeds Mandy Minella of Luxembourg and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic or Spanish pairing Lara Arruabarrena and Beatriz Garcia Vidagany, who were due to play their quarter-final later yesterday.
In the singles on Wednesday, top seed Serena Williams sailed through her opening match with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Belgian qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure.
Seventh seed Johanna Larsson of Sweden advanced to the second round after beating Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-3 and next plays Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany.
In the first three second-round matches, Arruabarrena rallied to upset second seed Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (7/5), 6-0 after being 2-4 down in the first set.
Fourth seed Mona Barthel and Jana Cepelova joined Arruabarrena in the quarter-finals.
BUCHAREST OPEN
Top-seeded Sara Errani overcame a slow start to beat Shahar Peer 7-6 (5), 6-2 on Wednesday and reach the quarter-finals of the Bucharest Open.
Polona Hercog of Slovenia also advanced, defeating Patricia Maria Tig of Romania 6-0, 6-2. Roberta Vinci eased past Hungary’s Timea Babos 6-2, 6-1, No. 4 Julia Goerges of Germany overcame qualifier Daria Kasatkina of Russia, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 and Sorana Cirstea of Romania beat Sesil Karatantcheva of Bulgaria 6-2, 6-2.
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