Eugenie Bouchard continues her transition to coach Sam Sumyk, but not without bumps. The latest came Thursday when the Canadian tennis star lost in Belgium.
Despite winning the first set, Bouchard was knocked out 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 by Mona Barthel. Bouchard was the tournament's top seed. It was Barthel's first victory over a top-10 player in two years.
It's not the result Bouchard expected. She came under Sumyk's tutelage after the Australian Open after ending her work with Nick Saviano during the offseason.
"It's always tough to play against Genie. She plays so well, you really have to play your best," Barthel said. "But today I was able to play my game, play aggressive and come into the net. At the end I had some nerves, but I'm happy I could play well to finish it. It's a great win for me."
Bouchard has company in her misery. No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber was wiped out in her match against Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-1.
"For me it was a great match because I was able to play the tactics I wanted to play," Schiavone told the WTA website. "I knew it would be a good opportunity for me today, and I'm happy with the way I played."
Schiavone last beat a top-10 player in January 2012.
Seven seed Alize Cornet lost 6-4, 6-2 to Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.