Paula Badosa overcame a determined Kaja Juvan in their second-round match at the 2022 French Open on Thursday. The third-seeded Spaniard eventually prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in two hours and 17 minutes.
Badosa drew out the errors from the Slovenian in the opening set to go up 5-2 in quick time. However, she was pulled back on both occasions she served for the set – in the eighth and 10th games – by Juvan who broke back and levelled the set at five-all. In the 11th game, while trying to consolidate her second break back, errors proved to be Juvan’s downfall once again and she conceded her serve for the third time. Getting an opportunity to serve for the set the third time, Badosa didn’t make any mistakes and was able to secure a lead in the match.
The second set played out with Juvan dominating the proceedings. She found a better margin on her shots while frustrating Badosa, who dropped her serve and didn’t get an opportunity to regain it back across the set. In the deciding set, the match’s momentum swung Badosa’s way yet again, despite her slow start – she lost her serve to start the set. The world no. 4 rebounded quickly and was able to hit past Juvan to not only regain the break back but also secure two additional breaks to pocket the win.
French Open: Paula Badosa grits out a victory
Only one winner separated Juvan from Badosa – the former had 34 while the latter had 35. But Juvan was let down by 32 unforced errors and 37 forced errors, while Badosa finished with 25 unforced and 31 forced errors.
In the round-of-32, Badosa will play 29th seed Veronika Kudermetova. Kudermetova won against Aleksandra Krunic, 6-3, 6-3.
Jessica Pegula also came through a strenuous second-round match, against Anhelina Kalinina. The American, seeded 11th, won 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 26 minutes. In the second set, Pegula served for the match twice but was broken both times allowing Kalinina to clinch the set from 2-5 down. The deciding set featured a couple of exchanges of breaks as well before Pegula served out the match, converting the win on her fifth match point.
In the third round, Pegula will play 24th seed Tamara Zidansek. The Slovenian received a walkover from Mayar Sherif ahead of their round-of-64 match.
Meanwhile, the most notable result in the initial session of play at the French Open came at the hands of French wildcard, Leolia Jeanjean. Jeanjean, ranked 227th in the world, ousted eighth seed Karolina Pliskova, 6-2, 6-2 in their round-of-64 meeting. Jeanjean will take on Irina-Camelia Begu for a chance to reach the fourth round. Begu ousted 30th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 in their second-round clash.
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