Second-seeded Karolina Pliskova has managed to rein in her errors to find a way past battling qualifier Mayar Sherif in the opening round of the French Open.
Former world No.1 Pliskova, who retired in the final in Rome with injury before coming to Paris, prevailed 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 6-4 on Tuesday.
Pliskova had 27 unforced errors and hit six double faults in the first set under the open roof of Court Philippe Chatrier as the 24-year-old Sherif – the first Egyptian woman in a grand slam main draw – saved eight set points to win the opener in the tiebreaker.
Czech Pliskova improved drastically in the second to level the match with three breaks of her opponent’s service games and a crucial break in the seventh game of the decider proved enough.
Pliskova sealed the match with an ace and will next meet 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko, who earlier in the day defeated American Madison Brengle 6-2 6-1.
It has been pretty much boom-or-bust for Latvian Ostapenko at Roland Garros at she strives for consistency after registering her only victory at the major outside her championship run iof three years ago.
“I just have to be more confident in my game and more consistent, unseeded Ostapenko, who was ranked fifth in 2018, said.
“If there is consistency in my game, I think I’m going to be a very dangerous player and it’s going to be not easy to beat me.”
Meanwhile, teenage Danish qualifier Clara Tauson caused a shock as she beat American 21st seed Jennifer Brady 6-4 3-6 9-7.
Powerful 17-year-old Tauson, making her grand slam main draw debut with a ranking of 188, played fearless tennis to edge out the recent US Open semi-finalist – on her fifth match point.
This year’s Australian Open junior champion, Tauson blasted 48 winners throughout the contest as she added her name to the list of rising young stars in the women’s game.
Kazakhstan’s 14th seed Elena Rybakina overwhelmed Sorana Cirstea 6-0 6-3 while others to advance to the second round were American Danielle Collins, Alison van Uytvanck, Ana Bogdan and Nao Hibino of Japan.