Fez, Morocco - Second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova is out of the WTA Tour's Grand Prix SAR after retiring in the third set of her second-round match against Irina-Camelia Begu on Wednesday.
Former French and US Open champion Kuznetsova breezed through the first set 6-1, lost the second in a tie-breaker and was down 3-2 in the decider when she pulled out with an apparent leg injury.
Sixth-seeded Chanelle Scheepers of South Africa was also eliminated in the second round, losing in three sets to Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens.
Third-seeded Petra Cetkovska and fifth-seeded Simona Halep progressed to the third round with straight-set wins, while qualifier Garbine Muguruza Blanco of Spain beat Patricia Mayr-Achleitner, who also retired after losing the first set 6-4.
Another Spaniard, Laura Pous-Tio, beat Arantxa Rus 6-3, 7-5.
Results from the third day of the WTA tournament on Wednesday (x denotes seeding):
Second round:
Mathilde Johansson (FRA) bt Shahar Peer (ISR x8) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
Irina Begu (ROM) bt Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x2) 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 3-2 retired
Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP x1) bt Mandy Minella (LUX) 6-2, 6-3
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) bt Patricia Mayr (AUT) 6-4, 0-0 retired
Petra Cetkovska (CZE x3) bt Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 6-3, 6-2
Laura Pous (ESP) bt Arantxa Rus (NED) 6-3, 7-5
Simona Halep (ROM x5) bt Alexandra Cadantu (ROM) 6-2, 7-5
Kiki Bertens (NED) bt Chanelle Scheepers (RSA x6) 7-5, 1-6, 6-3