Injured Mladenovic retires in Lugano
Tamara Korpatsch got past top-20 opponent for the first time in her career when Kristina Mladenovic withdrew due to injury.
Top seed Kristina Mladenovic retired from the Ladies Open Lugano on Friday (AEST) after being troubled by a back injury in her first-round encounter with Tamara Korpatsch.
The world number 19 from France lost a first-set tie-break 7-5 and was a break down at 3-2 in the second when she brought the contest to a premature end.
Victory for the 176-ranked Korpatsch was the German's first over a top-20 opponent and she will be up against fellow qualifier Kathinka von Deichmann in the second round.
Von Deichmann also advanced without completing her first-round encounter, Laura Siegemund retiring when 3-2 up in the second set after losing the first on a tie-break.
Seeds Anett Kontaveit and Svetlana Kuznetsova were knocked out by Vera Lapko and Mona Barthel respectively.
Kontaveit, seeded four, was beaten 3-6 6-4 6-3 by world number 130 Lapko, while wildcard and fifth seed Kuznetsova went down 4-6 6-3 6-4 to German Barthel.
Aryna Sabalenka was the first player to reach the quarter-finals, seeing off Polona Hercog 6-3 6-1.
