More misery for Schmiedlova in Rabat, Beck bows out
Kiki Bertens was the latest player to capitalise on the out-of-sorts Anna Karolina Schmiedlova's poor form in Rabat.
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova's miserable season took another turn for the worse when she was unceremoniously dumped out of the Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem by Kiki Bertens in the first round on Monday.
Schmiedlova has won only two matches this year and Bertens took advantage of her miserable form by dishing out a crushing 6-0 6-1 drubbing to the third seed in Rabat.
The unseeded Bertens, ranked 63 places below Schmiedlova, needed only 62 minutes to secure her place in the second round at the expense of the world number 34 from Slovakia.
Bertens starred for the Netherlands in their Fed Cup defeat to France this month and showed no mercy on Schmiedlova in a ruthless display.
Schmiedlova won only eight points on her own serve and was broken six times in a one-sided contest.
Sixth seed Annika Beck also fell at the first hurdle, suffering a 6-3 6-1 defeat to Teliana Pereira.
Beck saved nine break points, but was still unable to avoid a first-round exit at the hands of unseeded Brazilian Pereira.
Second seed Ekaterina Makarova saw off Alexandra Dulgheru in straight sets, while last year's beaten finalist Timea Babos beat Polona Hercog 6-3 6-7 (8-10) 6-1, while Pauline Parmentier and Johanna Larsson also advanced.