Halep Gets Past Riske To Win French Opener

May 30, 2018 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Simona Halep (1) (1)
Photo Credit: USTA

 

After waiting another full day before her French Open first round matchup, World No. 1 and last year’s runner-up Simona Halep finally pushed through into the Roland-Garros second round, coming back from a set down to beat American Alison Riske 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 on Wednesday.

“I had a slow start because it’s always tough to start this tournament. It’s a pleasure to come here and to play, so I always feel nervous at the beginning,” said Halep. “It was good that I came back so strong. I just didn’t think about the result or about the match. I just wanted to relax my arms, because I was moving pretty well also at the beginning, but my arm was very tight and I couldn’t hit the ball as I wanted. Then it was much easier, and I felt really well in the end of the match, and that’s the most important for now.”

Riske took advantage of 16 unforced errors from Halep in the first set, and built a 5-0 advantage before closing out the opener 6-2.

But Halep turned the tide in the second. She came out firing, dropping just five points in the first five games of the second set, and then raced out to a 3-0 lead in the deciding third set to push through to the second round. She will take on another American, wild card Taylor Townsend, next.

No. 4 seed Elina Svitolina took advantage of 41 unforced errors from her opponent, Viktoria Kuzmova, to advance to the third round of the French Open with a  6-3, 6-4 victory.

Svitolina draws Mihaela Buzarnescu, the No. 31 seed, next.

 Madison Keys defeated compatriot Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday. The No. 13 seed Keys plays No. 21 seed Naomi Osaka in the third round.

No. 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki, No. 8 seed Petra Kvitova and No. 10 seed Sloane Stephens were other notable winners in women’s singles on Wednesday.

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
USTA NTC

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