World number one 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 on Wednesday, while Petra Kvitova impressed in reaching round three.
Halep, the runner-up in Paris in 2014 and 2017, slumped 0-5 down in the opening set to world number 83 Riske whose only win at the tournament came in 2014.
The Romanian committed 16 unforced errors in the set but stepped up a gear from that point on to book a second-round match against Taylor Townsend of the United States.
“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.”
“Anything can happen with the rain so all we can do is rest and try to be at our best when we step on the court.”
Halep needs to reach the semi-finals or better if she is to retain the world top spot.
The 26-year-old, who is still looking for a first Grand Slam title, will play for the second straight day on Thursday, after the match with Riske was pushed back from Tuesday due to rain.
“I think I’ll be ready tomorrow, I feel strong in my legs,” said the top seed.
Wozniacki thrashes qualifier in 51 minutes
Second seed Caroline Wozniacki cruised into the French Open third round with a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Spanish qualifier Georgina Garcia Perez.
Reigning Australian Open champion Wozniacki, who can regain the world number one ranking from Simona Halep by winning a second Grand Slam title in Paris, will next play the winner of the all-French clash between Alize Cornet and Pauline Parmentier.
World number 219 Garcia Perez, 26, was playing in the main draw of a major tournament for the first time and was totally outclassed on Court Philippe Chatrier, as Denmark’s Wozniacki won in just 51 minutes.
Impressive Kvitova eases into Round 3
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.
Czech Kvitova has not reached the quarter-finals 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.
Fourth seed Svitolina through
Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina reached the French Open third round for the fourth consecutive year by brushing aside Viktoria Kuzmova in straight sets on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old, who arrived in Paris having won her second straight Italian Open title, saw off her Slovakian opponent 6-3, 6-4 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Svitolina, a two-time quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, will take on Romanian 31st seed Mihaela Buzarnescu in the last 32.
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 tournament, having lifted the prestigious Indian Wells title earlier this year before beating Serena Williams in Miami the following week.
Williams, who made her Grand Slam return with a singles win on Tuesday, is back in action in the doubles with sister Venus later on Wednesday.
Results
2nd rd
Barbora Strycova (CZE x26) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-4, 6-2
Naomi Osaka (JPN x21) bt Zarina Diyas (KAZ) 6-4, 7-5
Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU x31) bt Rebecca Peterson (SWE) 6-1, 6-2
Elina Svitolina (UKR x4) bt Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) 6-3, 6-4
Petra Kvitova (CZE x8) bt Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) 6-0, 6-4
With inputs from AFP
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