Muguruza crashes back to reality in Mallorca

Garbine Muguruza lost her first match since winning the French Open, bowing out to Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium 6-3 6-4 in the first round of the Mallorca Open grass-court tournament.

The Spanish world No.2 had a 2-1 record against Flipkens, but the Belgian won their only previous match on grass three years ago en route to the s-Hertogenbosch final.

Muguruza had two break points for 4-3 in the first set but Flipkens held, and broke Muguruza’s serve in the next game. She won the set when Muguruza hit a backhand into the net. In the second, Flipkens made the decisive break at 3-3. 

Two other seeds also lost: No. 4 Kristina Mladenovic of France to former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki 6-4 6-4 and No.5 Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan to Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-3 6-2.  Cirstea saved all four break points she faced.

Second-seeded Jelena Jankovic improved her win-loss record to only 8-13 this year after beating Ana Konjuh of Croatia 7-5 6-3.

Another player in need of a good run is former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard of Canada. She started the year with finals in Hobart and Kuala Lumpur but her form has been patchy in recent months. She started her campaign well, defeating Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-3 7-5.