Svitolina upset, Rybakina battles through at Qatar Total Open

It did not take long for the 2020 Qatar Total Open to record it's first seeded casualty, as fifth seed Elina Svitolina was eliminated in the first round on Monday.

The World No.5 was outplayed by American teenager Amanda Anisimova, who hit 27 winners to triumph 6-3 6-3 in just over an hour.

After defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round, Anisimova continued to display the aggression that is synonymous with her game. The 18-year old broke Svitolina on three occasions, while saving all three break points faced. Svitolina's passive play and inconsistency was enough to gift the American the match.

Elena Rybakina continues to have an impressive season, as the St. Petersburg finalist rallied from a set down to defeat Romanian Sorana Cirstea 3-6 6-3 6-1. After reaching her second consecutive final in Dubai last week, Rybakina obtained her Tour-leading 20th win of the season. The 20-year old next faces Belgium's Alison Van Uytvanck.

American Jennifer Brady also fought from behind to defeat compatriot Alison Riske 7-6(10) 1-6 7-6(3). The Dubai semifinalist will be looking to build off her strong performance last week, where she overpowered Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza.

Seventh-seeded Kiki Bertens had a much easier route, defeating Karolina Muchova 6-2 6-4. The same could not be said for tenth-seeded Petra Martic, who fell 6-4 1-6 2-6 to Barbora Strycova.

Polish teenager Iga Swiatek defeated Donna Vekic 6-4 7-5, while former World No.9 Vera Zvonareva fought past Hsieh Su-Wei 6-4 6-4.

Maria Sakkari notched her eighth win of the season in her 6-4 6-3 victory over Julia Goerges, while Saisai Zheng upset twelfth-seeded Marketa Vondrousova 1-6 6-3 6-2.

Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska defeated Belgian journeywoman Kirsten Flipkens 6-2 6-4, joining Yulia Putintseva in the second round. Putintseva beat Timea Babos 6-3 6-4 in her first round match.

Anett Kontaveit defeated Anastasija Sevastova 6-4 7-6(3), while Czech Tereza Martincova overcame Japan's Misaki Doi 6-2 3-6 6-2 in just under two hours.

Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro dispatched of China's Shuai Zang 7-5 6-0, keeping her goal of a successful final season alive.

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