TENNIS: World No1 Muguruza retires ill in china

World No1 Garbine Muguruza withdrew with a virus in the first round of the China Open on Monday while US Open winner Sloane Stephens came out in a shock loss.

Muguruza Spain suggested in accumulation that she was not completely in shape and lost the first set 6-1 to Barbora without sewing Strycova from the Czech Republic.

Muguruza, the reigning Wimbledon champion, called a medical timeout 2-0 in the second set and then called him after having his pulse taken on the side of the court.

The 23-year-old said afterwards that she had been too unwilling even to practice for her opening but was determined to play, having lost in the quarter-finals last week in Wuhan where she struggled with a leg injury.

Muguruza has not yet won a tournament since becoming No. 1 in September

"Since I was in Beijing, I did not play at all, I do not know, I have a virus in Wuhan," he said.

"I want to feel the opportunity to give the last chance, go on the court, just hit some balls, see how I feel, try to change things.

"I do not want to retire before the tournament starts for me."

"It's good that I could play, I had more days to rest, but in fact, I could not act today."

Strycova faces Julia Goerges of Germany in the second round. Muguruza has not yet won a tournament since reaching the top spot in mid-September.

Elsewhere, Stephens fell in the first round for the second consecutive week, this time at the hands of qualifier Christina McHale.

Stephens, the fifteenth seed, saw his party delayed due to rain falling on Beijing's open-topped peaks, and when it finally got underway it failed to shoot, leaving its compatriot, losing 6-3 and 6-0 in just 62 minutes.

The loss prolongs Stephens' poor run after sealing his first Grand Slam last month, and comes just a week after the 24-year-old dropped similarly in the first, losing to China's Wang Qiang at the Wuhan Open.

Stephens, who ranked 17th in the 79-man McHale world, declined to make excuses during a post-match press conference that lasted less than 90 seconds.

"Hard day, there is not much to say," he said. "Obviously it's not a great game, so forget about that and move on, try to have a better level for the next tournament (Hong Kong)."

On Monday, the 21-year-old Belgian Elise Mertens recovered from 5-0 in the first set to beat eighth seed Dominika Cibulkova 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.

There were also first-round wins for Peng Shuai, Elena Vesnina, Coco Vandeweghe and Varvara Lepchenko.

The second seed Simona Halep saw her second round match against Magdalena Rybarikova filed after morning drizzle.