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Venus Williams and Angelique Kerber are beaten as the stars go out at Cincinnati Open

Shock exit: Venus Williams: Getty Images
Shock exit: Venus Williams: Getty Images

Venus Williams has enjoyed a resurgence this season but was beaten in the Cincinnati Open by a player who had never defeated a top-10 opponent.

The world No9 lost 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 to qualifier Ashleigh Barty in the last 32 and was one of a number of big names to fall, with Angelique Kerber beaten in three sets by Ekaterina Makarova while the in-form Alexander Zverev was defeated by wild-card Frances Tiafoe in the men’s draw.

Williams is enjoying a comeback season, reaching the finals at the Australian Open and Wimbledon at the age 37. But last night the seven-time Grand Slam champion faded in the heat, falling behind 4-1 in the decisive set after dropping serve in the third and fifth games.

“I’m going to take a break, have a rest and just go big — that’s my plan,” said Williams. “She just played really well. She found openings in the court, was super consistent and she just played really well. I just have to give her credit.”

Before last night, Australian Barty had lost all six of her matches against top-10 opponents, with four of those defeats coming this year.

After grabbing control of the match, the 21-year-old, who is ranked 48 in the world, showed plenty of poise and served out to love in the final game to close out the contest in one hour and 50 minutes.

“It feels really good, I’m having a great hard-court season so far and loving the conditions here,” said Barty. “To play Venus on such a big stage is a privilege for me and to play so well like I did, I’m really excited,” Barty said.

“She’s a genuine champion of the game and has paved the way for us young players coming through.

“It’s an honour for me to walk out on the same court as her, be able to play against her and share the court with her. I was just really excited to play well and happy to be moving on.”

Another shock came when Kerber was beaten 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 by Makarova despite being ranked 36 places above the Russian.

Makarova converted on her eighth match point to end a two-hour, 39-minute contest and repeat the victory she enjoyed over the German at the French Open.

Kerber fell behind 5-2 in th

Sent packing: Alexander Zverev (Getty Images)
Sent packing: Alexander Zverev (Getty Images)

It was a bad night for German players, with compatriot Zverev also losing just three days after defeating Roger Federer in the final of the Rogers Cup.

The world No7 was on a 10-match winning streak but faded in the final set against Tiafoe, the energetic baseliner, losing 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Zverev won back-to-back titles in Washington and Montreal, leaving him little time to rest. It showed against the American, who was more aggressive as the match went along.

“I’m completely dead right now,” Zverev said. “I have been dead for the past two days.

“I could have easily pulled the plug in the second set but I’m not going to retire just because I’m tired. And he’s too good of a player to beat when I’m in this stage.”

It was 19-year-old Tiafoe’s first win over a top-10 player and the world No87 said: “I saw he was a bit tired but he was still competing. It was tough. I was happy to get through it.

“My game plan was to keep the rallies long and keep him out there and that’s what I did.”

There were no worries for top seed Rafael Nadal as he beat Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-4, finishing it off with two of his eight aces.