The American story at the Mutua Madrid Open is quickly becoming Louisa Chirico. The qualifier who has never been ranked in the world top 75 pulled off a big upset on Monday overcoming a dropped first set to stun #14 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. Chirico will not get a break in the next round though as she faces #4 Victoria Azarenka.

Chirico wasn’t the only American to pull off the upset on Monday as Christina McHale upset #13 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in straight sets 7-6, 6-4. Madison Keys made it three Americans in the third round after sweeping Barbora Strycova, also of the Czech Republic, by matching 6-3 scores.

On the men’s side Sam Querrey needed all three sets to dispatch qualifier Pierre-Hughes Herbert of France in a really tight match 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. Over in the women’s doubles competition Vania King/Alla Kudryavtseva (Russia) swept Julia Goerges of Georgia and Pliskova 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the second round. The only blemish on the American record Monday was #16 Sloane Stephens who suffered a disappointing 2-6, 3-6 loss to qualifier Patricia Mia Tig of Romania.

Most of the Americans who were in action today will get a break on Tuesday with a couple of exceptions. Querrey joins with Steve Johnson for doubles action as they take on Pablo Cuervas (Uruguay) and Marcel Granollers (Spain) while King/Kudryavtseva (Russia) will be challenged by #7 Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain.

Rounding out first round action in women’s doubles for the US will be the team of Raquel Atawo and Abigail Spears against #8 Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina of Russia. Jack Sock and Denis Kudla both will begin their competitions in the men’s singles event as Sock takes on Benoit Paire of France and Kudla faces Ivo Karlovic of Croatia. Rajeev Ram will also be in action, but partnered with South African Raven Klaasen in doubles play against Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez. 

Previous Mutua Madrid Open Coverage:
Preview
Day 1 Update
Day 2 Update