Naomi Osaka's quest for a third consecutive Grand Slam title almost came to an abrupt end, as the world number one and other top players struggled to book their spots in the second round of the French Open.
On a windy and chilly day at Roland Garros, Osaka, who won the US and the Australian Opens, lost the opening set to love against Slovakian Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, before rallying back for a 0-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 victory.
"I think this is the most nervous I have ever been my entire life during a match," she said.
"Today was weird, because usually the nerves go away, but it kind of stayed the entire match. Then I just felt like it was a fight of willpower."
Defending champion Simona Halep - Osaka's potential semi-final opponent - also lost her way in the second set against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in a 6-2 3-6 6-1 victory on a windswept Court Philippe Chatrier.
"It was not easy because of the emotions, the pressure," the reigning champion told reporters.
"But these are nice emotions, and I am happy I could win the match and get to play another one."
Victoria Azarenka avoided the fate of Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki, who were knocked out in the first round, when she beat 2017 champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
The two-time Australian Open champion is heading in the right direction, having risen back into the top 50, after giving birth to son Leo in December 2016.
"She's one of the players that you never know what's coming and she doesn't really give a lot of rhythm," Azarenka said of Ostapenko.
"For the first round, for me, that's something very dangerous, because it's important to get into the rhythm, into the tournament. You need to find a way to win and I felt that today that's what it was."
But Osaka had the biggest scare, as spots of rain and swirling winds disrupted her game, with the Japanese failing to put a mark on the scoreboard in the first set.
"For me, today was a bit tough, because it's one of those matches where you're not playing well, but you have to find a way to win," Osaka said. "For me, I've just begun learning how to do that."
Schmiedlova twice served for the match, only for Osaka to raise her game and force the contest into a decisive third set, during which her variety of shots and power proved too much to handle for the world number 99.
Women's results - Round one:
Katerina Siniakova (CZE) bt Q-Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 7-6(5) 6-1
29-Maria Sakkari (GRE) bt Anna Tatishvili (USA) 6-0 6-1
3-Simona Halep (ROU) bt Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-2 3-6 6-1
Iga Swiatek (POL) bt WC-Selena Janicijevic (FRA) 6-3 6-0
Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) bt Daria Gavrilova (AUS) 6-3 2-2 retired
16-Wang Qiang (CHN) bt Zheng Saisai (CHN) 6-1 7-5
14-Madison Keys (USA) bt Evgeniya Rodina (RUS) 6-1 6-2
WC-Priscilla Hon (AUS) bt LL-Timea Babos (HUN) 3-6 6-2 6-1
27-Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) bt Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 6-2 6-2
1-Naomi Osaka (JPN) bt Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) 0-6 7-6(4) 6-1
11-Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) bt Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 7-5 6-1
Q-Anna Blinkova (RUS) bt Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) 6-3 4-6 8-6
Magda Linette (POL) bt WC-Chloe Paquet (FRA) 3-6 6-1 6-2
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 6-4 7-6(4)
Q-Kurumi Nara (JPN) bt Dalila Jakupovic (SLO) 7-5 5-7 6-3
Karolina Muchova (CZE) bt 17-Anett Kontaveit (EST) 3-6 6-2 6-2
24-Caroline Garcia (FRA) bt Mona Barthel (GER) 6-2 6-4
Amanda Anisimova (USA) bt WC-Harmony Tan (FRA) 6-3 6-1
22-Bianca Andreescu (CAN) bt LL-Marie Bouzkova (CZE) 5-7 6-4 6-4
Monica Puig (PUR) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 6-1 7-5
21-Daria Kasatkina (RUS) bt Q-Jasmine Paolini (ITA) 6-2 6-3
Irina Begu (ROU) bt Zhu Lin (CHN) 6-1 6-1
Reuters
