New York: Former world number one Ana Ivanovic became the second top 10 seed to suffer a shock early US Open exit when she was knocked out by Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic on Thursday. Ivanovic, the eighth seed, lost 7-5, 6-4 to the 42nd-ranked Pliskova who has reached the third round at a major for the first time.


Ana Ivanovic returns to Karolina Pliskova during her US Open match yesterday. Pic/AFP 

The Serb followed fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska out of the tournament after the Pole had been beaten by Peng Shuai 24 hours earlier. Ivanovic came into New York as a potential title contender having captured trophies at Auckland, Monterrey and Birmingham this year while returning to the top ten for the first time in five years.