By Brent Shearer, Special to TPN
BRONX, New York (August 18, 2022) – Blame it on the wear and tear of the US hard court season or pre-US Open jitters, but seeds have been losing in bunches at the 60K NYJTL Bronx Open.
The biggest upset was scored by New York-based wild card Louisa Chirico who knocked off top seeded Daria Saville, Australia, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win on Tuesday. Her win made tournament director Joe Ceriello look like a genius for his wild card strategy. Saville is #73 in the WTA rankings.
The surprise at the top of the draw was mirrored at the bottom when No. 2 seed Oceane Dobin, France, lost to Swiss player Simona Waltert, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.
Also losing was fourth seeded Jule Niemeier, Germany, to Holland’s Lesley Pattinana Kerhove by a scoreline of 0-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Arguably, the tournament’s biggest name, 7th seed and former Slam finalist Italy’s Sara Erani, went down in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 to Australia’s Kimberly Birrell.
Christina McHale, a veteran pro from New Jersey, broke the pattern of unseeded players and wild cards making the tournament director look good by losing in the first round of the qualifying tournament.
In doubles, the endangered seed pattern continued as top seeded Irina Maria Bara, Romania, and Ekaterine Gorgodze, Georgia, lost to Ysaline Bonaventure, Belgium, and Kerkhove 2-6, 7-5, 10-4.
