Vickery advances after Collins retires; Bencic withdraws

Sachia Vickery advanced to the second round of the Guadalajara Open AKRON after Danielle Collins was forced to retire due to a lower back injury.

Guadalajara 2023: Scores | Order of Play | Draws

Ranked No.175, Vickery took her spot in the main draw after Beatriz Haddad Maia withdrew due to a hand injury. 

“Honestly, I was getting ready to leave tomorrow, I already had my flight,” Vickery said. “I was ready to go home. I came this morning and, unfortunately, Bia also hurt herself, and I wish her a speedy recovery. Sometimes that happens, some weeks on the tour.”

Vickery trailed 5-2 in the first set before mounting a comeback to force a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Vickery saved two set points before taking it 7-6(7).

After already calling a medical timeout and receiving treatment earlier in the set, Çollins could not continue. 

In as a lucky loser, the 28-year-old American will face her compatriot, Caroline Dolehide next. Dolehide won her opener over No.43 Peyton Stearns, winning 6-7(1), 7-6(5), 7-6(2).

Baptiste saves match points to beat Pliskova; Azarenka rolls

In other withdrawal news, No.5 seed Belinda Bencic withdrew ahead of her opening match against Taylor Townsend due to gastrointestinal illness. She was replaced in the draw by lucky loser Elvina Kalieva. Townsend and Kalieva’s second-round match was suspended for rain with the American leading 6-1, 5-5. 

More notable results from Day 2:

Sofia Kenin rebounded from her quick turnaround after making the San Diego final on Saturday to earning a win in Guadalajara on Monday. Kenin advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Canada’s Carol Zhao in the first round. She will face No.12 seed Anhelina Kalinina next.

No.7 seed Veronika Kudermetova held off Eugenie Bouchard in 2 hours and 49 minutes, winning 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-4 in the second round. 

Colombia’s Emiliana Arango earned her third tour-level main-draw win of the season by defeating No.11 seed Anastasia Potapova 6-4, 6-3 in the first round. Ranked No.180, the 22-year-old will face Sloane Stephens next.