China Open day three: Muguruza, Kerber upset

With three top 10 players bundled out of the tournament, as well as a former world No.1 and recent US Open champion, day three certainly delivered many surprising results.

The day got off to a slow start, with rain delaying play on outside courts until late into the evening.

When a picture speaks 140 characters… #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/TsgYAEL86m

— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 2, 2017

World No.1 Garbine Muguruza was lucky to be playing under the roof on Diamond Court – but still had a day to forget. The 2015 champion retired with illness while trailing Barbora Strycova 1-6 0-2.

"I just wanted to hit a few balls and try to turn things around"@GarbiMuguruza explains why she tried to play through the pain. pic.twitter.com/trFAFSjNig

— WTA (@WTA) October 2, 2017

World No.10 Dominika Cibulkova is out of the tournament too, squandering a 5-0 first set lead as Belgian Elise Mertens fought back to record a 7-6(4) 6-1 first round win.

.@Elise_Mertens fights back from 0-5 to oust No.8 seed Cibulkova 7-6(4), 6-1!

Sets @ChinaOpen Second round vs @CaroGarcia! pic.twitter.com/rGUs64pPJc

— WTA (@WTA) October 2, 2017

Sloane Stephens managed a smile at the net after her upset loss to qualifier Christina McHale, but that wasn’t the case in an uncomfortably short press conference.

Sloane Stephens: Just a tough day. There's not much to say about it…. So just forget about it and move on. #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/aX4sGFhdJl

— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 2, 2017

Angelique Kerber wasn’t happy either, exchanging words with Alize Cornet at the net after their tense second round battle.

.@AlizeCornet ousts No.10 seed Kerber 6-4, 6-4!

Frenchwoman is first through to @ChinaOpen Third round! pic.twitter.com/x2qFGiTvPr

— WTA (@WTA) October 2, 2017

Speaking of upsets, Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis stunned world No.10 Pablo Carreno Busta. It was the third top 10 win of the 33-year-old’s career.

Big, big win for @stevedarcishark. He comes through a tight second set to down Pablo Carreno Busta 6-0 6-4. #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/zhAQealImX

— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 2, 2017

German Jan-Lennard Struff didn’t get a win, beaten by countryman Mischa Zverev 5-7 6-4 6-4 in a late-night battle, but does make the highlight reel. Although we’re not sure that was what he was trying to do with this winner.

Bet you couldn't do that again if you tried, @Struffitennis ????

A smash drop-shot in Beijing…#ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/EKh6AnHjY2

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 2, 2017

If day three wasn’t epic enough, day four promises to be even bigger and Rafael Nadal is ready:

When it comes to challenges, the bigger the better for @RafaelNadal: https://t.co/qinO3VcSVJ #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/y2ywKdiPsi

— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 2, 2017

READ MORE: Passion drives Rafael Nadal