Kvitova survives first round scare

26 May 2015 03:17

Fourth seed Petra Kvitova squeezed into the French Open second round after winning 6-4 3-6 6-4 against New Zealand's Marina Erakovic.

Kvitova faced the same opponent in the second round at Roland Garros last year and while she won in straight sets on that occasion, the Czech was made to work hard for her victory on Philippe Chatrier.

Losing her serve six times in the match, Kvitova struggled to find her rhythm before edging into round two, where she will now face Spain's Silvia Soler-Espinosa.

"I have to say the conditions weren't really easy for me," Kvitova said.

"I think it was quite cold and the balls are really heavy, and they didn't really fly.

"For me it was really difficult to go for the shots. It was tough to make any winners.

"It was very difficult today. It was quite a long match and a big fight.

"Sometimes I couldn't win my serve so it was a little bit difficult but that's how it is in the first round of grand slams. I'm just glad I'm still in and still playing."

Caroline Wozniacki is also safely through after the fifth seed eased past Italy's Karin Knapp 6-3 6-0.

Wozniacki has not made it further than the last 16 in Paris since 2010 but she had few problems against Knapp, who arrived in good form having won the Nurnburg Cup on Saturday.

"It was really close in the beginning, there were a lot of deuces and advantages," Wozniacki said.

"She obviously is playing really well. She won last week.

"So for me it was a tough first round, but nothing unusual from my other draws this year.

"I was ready for it and just kind of excited - I knew the longer we played the better for me, so I didn't mind at all."

Source: PA