Second seed Karolina Pliskova has been knocked out the French Open at the third-round stage after losing to Petra Martic on Friday.
The Czech star was fancied to claim her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros this year and she underlined her credentials with routine victories in the opening two rounds against Madison Brengle and then Kristina Kucova.
However, the 27-year-old was nowhere near her best as she was comprehensively beaten 6-3 6-3 by 31st-seed Martic, who will now face either two-time quarter-finalist Kaia Kanepi or world number 68 Veronika Kudermetova for a place in the last eight.
It is the second year in a row that Pliskova has failed to make it beyond the third round in Paris and she is the fourth top-10 seed in the women’s draw to exit this year’s tournament, following in the footsteps of Kiki Bertens, Angelique Kerber and Petra Kvitova.
Pliskova, who did reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2017, will now have to turn her attention to Wimbledon, as her wait for a first Grand Slam triumph goes on.
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