Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and seventh-ranked Coco Gauff had upset losses to Russian players in the second round of the Berlin Open on Thursday. Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion from Belarus, was beaten 6-2 7-6 (2) by Veronika Kudermetova despite improving after an error-strewn start. Gauff lost 6-4 6-0 to Ekaterina Alexandrova. "For me it's very important to play like that today," Kudermetova said.

"I always believe in myself. I know I can play really well, and I always believe." Both Sabalenka and Gauff were playing their first tournament on grass and their first since the French Open while their Russian opponents reached the final of the grass-court Libema Open in the Netherlands on Sunday, which Alexandrova won.