By Tennis Now | Tuesday, April 23, 2019
The top seed tumbled out of Istanbul.
In an all-Spanish clash, Lara Arruabarrena upset top-seeded Carla Suárez Navarro, 6-4, 7-5, at the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup.
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Arruabarrena, who rolled out to a 4-1 first set lead, won six of the final eight games to book her spot in the round of 16 against Rebecca Peterson.
Reigning champion Pauline Parmentier moved on, while former champion Cagla Buyukakcay moved out.
Parmentier, fresh off helping France edge Romania, 3-2, in a spirited Fed Cup semifinal in Rouen last weekend, launched her title defense with a 6-1, 6-1, thrashing of Evgeniya Rodina.
The 53rd-ranked Parmentier did not drop serve in a 56-minute rout advancing to a second-round clash vs. Elena Rybakina.
The 19-year-old qualifier surprised seventh-seeded Katerina Siniakova, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova was a 6-3, 7-6 (4), victor over 2015 champion Buyukakcay. The Russian wild card will play either Marketa Vondrousva or Ajla Tomljanovic next.
Qualifier Veronika Kudermetova surprised eighth-seeded Maria Sakari, 6-3, 6-4.