There were not many surprises in todays matches on the WTA side at Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. Those played during the daytime session really didn't provide too much in the way of major shocks, controversy, yes, shocks no.
Maria Sharapova (5) took to the court against Madison Keys. Although Sharapova was the favourite on paper, as this is an American Open lead up event Keys had the home support. This did not help her at all in the first set, which was very nervy from Keys and she was soon down 5-0. She managed to hold serve for the first time in the match and get a game on the board. Sharapova soon served the first set out, to take it 6-1. Into the second set and Keys got off to a better start, and managed to find a way into the Sharapova serve. She finally broke and managed to take the set 6-3. It was at this point that Sharapova took a comfort break, that lasted over 8 minutes. As she returned to the court Sharapova was booed by some of the crowd. This delay effected Keys and her rhythm had gone. Sharapova sped into a 3-0 lead. Keys did manage to get some games back and the match was settled 6-3 in favour of the 5th seed. What happened next was a bit odd. Sharapova walked off court (after shaking hands etc), shunning the on court interview and the autograph hunters.
Mona Barthel (L) found herself in main draw after Azarenka pulled out with an injury. She faced Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova. The first set was very tight and went the way of Zahlavova-Strycova eventually at 7-5, she then wasted no time in destroying Barthel in the 2nd set, taking it 6-0.
Garbine Muguruza and Annika Beck (Q) had a hard fought match that went to a full 3 sets. Beck eventually won this 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 to make the next round.
Kurumi Nara wasted no time in defeating Romina Oprandi in under 50 minutes. Nara took this match 6-0, 6-2.
Roberta Vinci and Sabine Lisicki were in another battle over 3 sets to decide who would progress. Lisicki took the first set 6-3, Vinci then took the second 6-2, before Lisicki powered through the final set 6-2.
Yanina Wickmayer (Q) and Sara Errani (14) was another match with a bit of controversy going on. In the first set Wickmayer had a big lead before Errani fought back to level it at 5-5, she then managed to break and took the set 7-5. The 2nd set started better again for Wickmayer and she had a lead again. This time there was an over-rule by the umpire on Errani's serve (it was a bad over-rule, and she challenged it), she then had an argument with the umpire, and ended up losing the next couple of games as she still stewed over the error. This essentially gifted Wickmayer the set, and it was going 3. It eventually fell to a tiebreak and Errani managed to get through this.
Ekaterina Makarova had a very easy time against Daniela Hantuchova. In just over an hour Makarova strode to a 6-2 , 6-2 win.
Camila Giorgi and Svetlana Kuznetsova were in a very exciting battle. Kuznetsova took the first set 6-4, before Giorgi fought back to take the 2nd on a tiebreak. Kuznetsova raised her game for the final set and took this 6-3.
In the all American 1st round match Nicole Gibbs (Q) and Christina Mchale (W) had the home crowd enthralled. Gibbs took the first set 6-4, before Mchale pulled it level by taking the 2nd 6-3. In the final set Mchale rolled Gibbs taking it 6-1.
Carla Suarez Navarro (15) and Tsvetana Pironkova were another pairing in a three set match. Suarez Navarro took the first 6-3, before Pironkova surprised her by taking the second set 6-1. Suarez Navarro was not taking that and stepped up to take the final set 6-2.
Lucie Safarova (16) was up against the finalist in Montreal Venus Williams. With playing first it appeared that Williams was tired, although she did manage to collect the first set on a tie break. Safarova stepped up in the next set and levelled the match by taking the set 6-3. In the final set Safarova got the break required and took the set 6-4 to seal the victory.
In the all qualifyers match Zarina Diyas and Irina-camila Begu could not break each other as the first set went to a tie break which Diyas took 7-4. It was much the same in the 2nd set, where again it went to a tie break and again Diyas took this 7-5