Top seed Caroline Garcia moved into the second round of the Cleveland Open on Monday. The Frenchwoman defeated the Czech Republic’s Linda Fruhvirtova 6-3, 6-2 in just 66 minutes in their first-round match-up.
Garcia failed to save the only break point she faced while converting four of five break points across the match. She won 73% of her first-serve points to her opponent’s 59%, and won 53% points on return on the latter’s second serve.
Entering into the last WTA tournament before the start of the US Open, Garcia was on a four-match losing streak. The world no. 7 had lost in the first rounds of her last three tournaments in the American swing, first at the Citi DC Open in Washington and then in Montreal and Cincinnati, last week.
In the second round, Garcia will take on Peyton Stearns. The American came through in her first round against Italian lucky loser Martina Trevisan. Stearns was leading Trevisan 6-1, 4-5 before the latter decided to retire from the match.
Cleveland Open: Czechs tumble out
Meanwhile, Fruhvirtova’s compatriot and second seed Barbora Krejcikova also made her way out of the WTA 250 in the first round. Danish lucky loser Clara Tauson upset the world no. 11. After an hour and 29 minutes of play, Tauson won 6-4, 6-1 over the former French Open winner.
Tauson won 81% of her first-serve points to Krejcikova’s 68%. She also won 69% points on return on the higher-ranked player’s second serve. Tauson saved two of the three break points she faced while converting four of six break points on her rival’s serve.
Leylah Fernandez will be Tauson’s next opponent. The Canadian got through her first round on Sunday against another Czech player, Linda Noskova. The 2021 US Open finalist needed 64 minutes to post a 6-0, 6-2 win over the teenager.
Lastly, Mirra Andreeva also advanced to the second round of the Cleveland Open. The 16-year-old was to play Venus Williams previously but after the latter decided to opt out of playing this week with an injury, Andreeva played German lucky loser Tamara Korpatsch. After two hours and 15 minutes, Andreeva won 6-0, 3-6, 7-5.