Eighth-seeded Anett Kontaveit saved two match points before beating Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6 6-2 7-6 (8-6) in the first round of the Ostrava Open on Monday.
Alexandrova wasted three service games to serve out the match.
Leading 6-4 in the tiebreaker, Alexandrova failed to convert two match points but Kontaveit converted her first one with a forehand volley.
“I never really gave up, I tried to be a little more aggressive when I was down,” Kontaveit said. “I felt maybe I’d taken a little bit off my shots.”
Top-seeded Elina Svitolina will open her account in the second round against Maria Sakkari, the Greek who eliminated Czech Kristyna Pliskova 6-3 6-3.
US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka will meet Barbora Krejcikova, who beat fellow Czech qualifier Tereza Martincova 7-5 6-1.
The inaugural Ostrava Open, an indoor hard-court event, was added to the WTA tour after the tournaments in China were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.