French Open: Petra Kvitova saves match point, Aryna Sabalenka confidently continues
Petra Kvitova and Aryna Sabalenka are in the second round of the French Open. The path to this could hardly have been more different for the two of them.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: May 30, 2021, 08:27 pm
Petra Kvitova's relief was palpable even in front of the television sets: After the 6: 7 (3), 7: 6 (5) and 6: 1 successes over the Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen, the Czech is in the French Open second round. In the second set, the two-time Grand Slam winner even fended off a match point. She will now meet Elena Vesnina, who celebrated her first individual victory since 2018 and her baby break.
Aryna Sabalenka had it much easier. The Belarusian, seeded third in Paris, defeated Ana Konjuh with 6: 4 and 6: 3 despite a false start. The 23-year-old now faces Diane Parry or compatriot Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
In any case, it was a thoroughly successful first day in Roland Garros for the seeded players: Victoria Azarenka prevailed on the Philippe-Chatrier Court in three sets against Svetlana Kuznetsova, as did Elena Rybakina (vs. Elsa Jacquemot), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (vs. Christina McHale) and Paola Badosa qualified for the second round.
At the beginning of the day, world number two Naomi Osaka defeated Patricia Maria Tig in two sets. Angelique Kerber , who was placed 26th, had to pack her bags.
Here the single tableau in Roland Garros
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