Paris: World No.1 Simona Halep battled back after a disastrous opening set to beat Alison Riske 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 in their delayed French Open first round match here Wednesday, while Petra Kvitova impressed in reaching round three.
Halep, the runner-up here in 2014 and 2017, slumped 0-5 down in the opening set to World No. 83 Riske, but from the second set onwards stepped up her game.
“It’s always difficult in the first round of a Grand Slam, you are always nervous,” said Halep. “But I started to run more, played better and kept more balls in play.”
Because of rain delay which interrupted her match Tuesday, the Romanian will now have to play on consecutive days. However, she is not worried. “I feel strong in my legs. I don’t think playing Thursday will be any problems,” Halep asserted.
Eighth seed Kvitova eased into the third round with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena on Court One. The two-time Wimbledon champion has now won 13 consecutive matches on clay after claiming titles in Prague and Madrid, and will face Estonia’s 25th seed Anett Kontaveit for a place in the last 16. Kontaveit trounced Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru 7-5, 6-2.
Czech Kvitova has not reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros since a run to the last four in 2012. The 28-year-old raced through the opening set in only 24 minutes, and although she was pegged back after an early break in the second, a booming forehand sealed victory with a third straight game.
Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina reached the last 32 for the fourth consecutive year by brushing aside Viktoria Kuzmova in straight sets. The 23-year-old saw off her Slovakian opponent 6-3, 6-4.
Elsewhere, charismatic Japanese 21st seed Naomi Osaka came through a tight match with Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas 6-4, 7-5.
The 20-year-old Osaka is seeded for the first time at a Major, having lifted the prestigious Indian Wells title earlier this year before beating Serena Williams in Miami the following week.
Also advancing to the third round was US Open champion Madison Keys. The American beat compatriot Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 6-1. Keys broke her opponent four times in the match and did not face a breakpoint on her serve.
