Angry Pliskova knocked out by Sakkari in Rome

Published by AAP / Tennismash

Karolina Pliskova had won her last eight three-set matches in a row; Getty Images
A line call infuriates Karolina Pliskova on her way to defeat by Maria Sakkari in Rome, while top seeds Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki make progress.

Karolina Pliskova smashed a hole in the umpire’s chair in anger after a contentious line call late in her loss to Maria Sakkari in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

The sixth seed was tied at 5-5 in the deciding set with her Greek opponent when her smash was called out by a line judge.

Replays showed the ball landed inside the sideline but umpire Marta Mrozinska refused to accept Pliskova’s pleadings to overturn the call.

Sakkari won the game and then served out the match to win 3-6 6-3 7-5.

Pliskova did not shake Mrozinska’s hand and instead smashed her racquet several times against the side of the umpire’s chair, breaking the wood.

“I see it as a good win, and I’m moving onto the next one,” Sakkari told wtatour.com following her first top-5 win.

Things were a lot more straightforward for world No.1 Simona Halep, who won 12 straight games against exciting young Japanese Naomi Osaka in a 6-1 6-0 victory that lasted just 59 minutes.

“I just tried to build my points, to build a little bit of space and open the court, and tried to make winners,” said Halep.

“It’s tough to make winners on this court, for me, but it’s good when I can build the point.”

REPORT: Nadal and Djokovic through in Rome, Thiem beaten 

Second seed Caroline Wozniacki defeated Belgian qualifier Alison van Uytvanck 6-1 6-4.

Three-time champion Maria Sharapova battled past Dominika Cibulkova 3-6 6-4 6-2, and eighth seed Venus Williams beat Elena Vesnina 6-2 4-6 7-5.

US Open champion Sloane Stephens held off a comeback from Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi in a 6-0 5-7 6-4 victory; seventh-seeded Caroline Garcia defeated Timea Babos 6-3 6-4 and 14th-seeded Daria Kasatkina eliminated American qualifier Danielle Collins 6-2 6-3.

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