2020 Roland Garros: Karolina Pliskova survives; Kristina Mladenovic denied

Karolina Pliskova saw off the gutsily-playing Mayar Sherif in her opening round at the 2020 Roland Garros on Tuesday. The second seed needed two hours and 15 minutes to topple her opponent 6-7(9), 6-2, 6-4.

The Egyptian who was playing her first main draw match at a Major matched Pliskova shot-for-shot in the opening set. Apart from hitting a stream of unforced errors, Pliskova was also troubled by her serve, producing five double faults in the first set. Sherif’s bold play saw her break Pliskova in the 11th game of the set but she was broken right back while trying to serve it out. In the tie-break, the Czech inched ahead but she was undone with her errors which saw Sherif once again level the set. In the end, Sherif saved eight set points before getting the lead over the former French Open semi-finalist.

Pliskova found her game in the second and third sets and although Sherif tried to outplay her, the world no. 4 was too good to be pegged back again.

In the second round, Pliskova will take on Jelena Ostapenko. The 2017 Roland Garros champion defeated the USA’s Madison Brengle 6-2, 6-1 in 62 minutes.

Brengle’s compatriot Danielle Collins advanced to the second round. Collins came from a set down to defeat Romanian qualifier Monica Niculescu 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 in an hour and 47 minutes. Collins will play Danish qualifier Clara Tauson next.

Tauson upset Collins’ fellow countrywoman and 21st seed Jennifer Brady in her opener. The 17-year-old saved two match points en route to her win over the 2020 US Open semi-finalist 6-4, 3-6, 9-7 in two hours and 45 minutes. This was Tauson’s first win at a Major.

2020 Roland Garros: Gamesmanship overshadows Laura Siegemund's win

Two more Romanian players in the draw had mixed results. Ana Bogdan won against Timea Babos in their round-of-128 encounter 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 26 minutes. Bogdan awaits the winner of the match between the fourth-seeded Sofia Kenin and Russian Liudmila Samsonova.

Cirstea, meanwhile, lost to the 14th-seeded Kazakh Elena Rybakina. Rybakina won in straight sets 6-0, 6-3 in 65 minutes. She will take on either Heather Watson or Fiona Ferro in the next round.

Belgium’s Alison van Uytvanck also came from a set down to beat Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson in their opening-round meeting. After an hour and 44 minutes of play, Van Uytvanck won 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. She will next play either 26th seed Donna Vekic or Romanian qualifier Irina Bara.

Nao Hibino of Japan moved past Ukrainian qualifier Marta Kostyuk into the round-of-64. Hibino needed just 58 minutes to defeat the 18-year-old who was playing her first French Open. Hibino awaits either 30th seed Ons Jabeur or Zarina Diyas next.

Laura Siegemund ended French hopeful Kristina Mladenovic’s run in the opening round of 2020 Roland Garros. In what was a disputed match played under the roof following rain interruption, the German saved seven set points to advance to the round-of-64. Siegemund won 7-5, 6-3, overturning a 1-5 deficit – which involved hitting the ball on a double bounce while Mladenovic had a set point – in two hours and two minutes.  

Photo Credit: Roland Garros Twitter

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