Caroline Garcia needed two hours and three minutes to post a tough 6-4,7-6(4) win over Tereza Martincova in their first-round match at the Lyon Open on Tuesday. The top-seeded Frenchwoman had eight aces for the match.
Garcia put in only 60% of her first serves as compared to the Czech’s 73% but won 71% of her first-serve points to the latter’s 61%. Both players’ second-serve points hovered in the 30s with the world no. 5 winning 39% of her second-serve points to Martincova’s 35%. Garcia went on to save six of the eight break points she faced while converting three break points on Martincova’s serve. Both players traded a break each in the second set before its outcome was decided in the tie-break.
Lyon Open: Shuai Zhang off to a strong start
In the second round, Garcia will take on the winner between Alison Van Uytvanck and Tamara Korpatsch. The two will play the first-round on Wednesday.
Defending champion Shuai Zhang who’s also the second seed in the French event won her opening-round clash against Madison Brengle. The world no. 23 needed just and hour to wrap up a 6-3, 6-2 win against the American.
The Chinese player won 66% of her first-serve points and 68% of her second-serve points. She also won 67% points on return on Brengle’s second serve. Zhang did drop her serve once in the match but broke Brengle on four occasions.
Zhang’s next opponent will be Maryna Zanevska.
Seventh seed Danka Kovinic also reached the second-round with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Viktorija Golubic. The Montenegrin needed an hour and 24 minutes to secure the win. Next up will be Anna Bondar. The Hungarian won 6-4, 6-4 against Nuria Parrizas Diaz.
Anna Blinkova, the eighth seed was forced to retire in her first-round match. Erika Andreeva advanced to the second round after Blinkova retired in the third set with the score reading 6-7(3), 6-4, 4-0 in Andreeva’s favour.
Andreeva will take on either Rebeka Masarova or Jasmine Paolini next.
Lastly, Alycia Parks and Clara Burel also reached the second round of the Lyon Open. The American defeated Julia Grabher 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. The French wildcard came through against Ana Bogdan 7-5, 6-4.