French Open 2017: Garbine Muguruza beats Francesca Schiavone to reach second round
| French Open |
|---|
| Venue: Roland Garros, Paris Dates: 28 May-11 June |
| Coverage: Listen to live radio commentary and follow text coverage of selected matches on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and online. |
Spain’s Garbine Muguruza started the defence of her French Open title by beating 2010 champion Francesca Schiavone 6-2 6-4.
Fourth seed Muguruza went into the match having won only three times on clay this season, but she cruised through the first set.
Italian Schiavone, 36, won three games in a row to lead the second set but Muguruza fought back to win.
Muguruza will face Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit in the second round.
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“I cannot believe in the first round we have two ex-champions. Not only that but Francesca is a legend and I was very excited to play on Philippe Chatrier court with her,” said Muguruza.
Muguruza defeated Serena Williams to win her maiden Grand Slam title a year ago, but the 23-year-old needs to return to the final to stay in the world’s top 10.
“I know I played good here before, but that doesn’t make me extra confident this year. I have to play well to earn that confidence again,” she said.
Schiavone, who is 37 in June, played in the tournament for the final time before her retirement at the end of the year.
France’s Mladenovic comes through three-hour epic
Kristina Mladenovic – France’s biggest hope in the women’s draw – overcame American Jennifer Brady in a three-hour match on Philippe Chatrier court.
The world number 14 was trailing in the first set when she had to go off for treatment on a back problem.
She also found herself 0-3 down in the deciding set before coming back to win 6-3 3-6 9-7.
“I pulled my back yesterday and specialists were saying I needed 48 hours,” said Mladenovic. “I was almost sure I could not make it to court today.
“It was not the best thing obviously but I promise you I will come back and will fight until the end.”
Caroline Wozniacki had to fight hard to beat Australian Jaimee Fourlis 6-4 3-6 6-2.
Wildcard Fourlis, aged 17 and at 337 the lowest-ranked player in the main draw, pushed the 11th seeded Dane in the second set.
But Wozniacki, who had to retire during last week’s Strasbourg tournament because of a lower-back injury, regained control in the deciding set.