Teenage Danish qualifier Clara Tauson has caused a shock, saved two match points to beat American 21st seed Jennifer Brady 6-4 3-6 9-7 in the opening round of the French Open.
Making her Grand Slam main-draw debut, the powerful 17-year-old, with a ranking of 188, played fearless tennis to edge out the recent US Open semi-finalist.
She was on the brink of defeat at 5-6 in the decider when she saved two match points, then squandered three of her own when serving at 7-6, the last one after her attempted drop shot hit the tape and fell agonisingly back on her side.
But the third-youngest player in the draw - behind Coco Gauff and wildcard Elsa Jacquemot - refused to buckle under the pressure and broke Brady again, before clinching victory on her fifth match point with a well-placed serve.
Comparisons with former world No.1 and fellow Dane Caroline Wozniacki are understandable, although Copenhagen native Tauson plays a more aggressive style of game, as she demonstrated with 48 winners to Brady's 39.
She will face another American next in the shape of Danielle Collins and is clearly revelling on the big stage.
"Of course I am surprised I am in the second round of the French Open, but I feel like I have the game to be here right now," says the Australian Open junior champion.
"Jen was in the semi-finals of the US Open, so I was just grateful to be there and just happy that I could play a girl like her on a big court."
Kenin survives first-round hiccup
American fourth seed Sofia Kenin has recovered from a mid-match slump to defeat big-hitting Liudmila Samsonova 6-4 3-6 6-3 in a rain-interrupted first-round match at the French Open.
Australian Open champion Kenin arrived in Paris after a 6-0 6-0 pounding by Victoria Azarenka in her only claycourt contest in Rome and faced the 125th-ranked Russian for the first time in her career.
After an early trade of double breaks, Kenin broke Samsonova in the ninth game and held serve to take the opening set.
Rain then forced the players off the court and when they returned, Kenin quickly found herself down 3-0 and then 5-1, as Samsonova started painting Court Suzanne Lenglen with winners off her forehand and backhand.
Kenin says the rain delay affected her, and she was too anxious to go out and play.
Despite the double break, the diminutive Kenin did not give up and got a break back just before play was halted again, after the Russian complained of slippery court conditions.
When play resumed, Samsonova managed to hold her next service game to take the set and then broke her fellow 21-year-old's serve in the decider to take a 2-0 lead.
"I'm obviously really fierce and I'm not going to give up, says Kenin. "I really love winning, I play to win.
"I get pretty hard on myself when I'm not winning and pretty upset with myself," adds the American, who threw her racket down in frustration a few times.
Kenin changed her strategy and started hitting loopy high balls deep into the Russian's court. It worked, as she levelled things and then got the crucial service break in the eighth game.
She converted her first match point when Samsonova, who again failed to get past the first round at a Grand Slam, sent a backhand wide.
Samsonova hit 12 more winners and just one unforced error more than Russian-born Kenin, but lost in just shy of two hours.
Kenin believes winning the Australian Open has made her a more confident player.
"Going into tournaments, when I'm high seeded, I feel like people are watching me, just a bit more pressure from the outside," she says. "But that's obviously good - it means they know I'm fierce, tough, not an easy opponent."
In the second round, Kenin will meet Ana Bogdan, after the Romanian defeated Timea Babos 6-4 6-2.
Pliskova prevails despite sluggish start
Second seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic overcame a sluggish start to beat Egyptian qualifier Mayar Sherif 6-7(9) 6-2 6-4 in the first round.
Pliskova retired during the final of the Italian Open in Rome last week after receiving treatment on her back and leg.
Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 champion, eased into the second round with a 6-2 6-1 victory over American Madison Brengle.
Laura Siegmund beat local favourite Kristina Mladenovic 7-5 6-3 under the retractable roof on Court Philippe Chatrier. Rain continued to delay matches on the outer courts at Roland Garros.
Reuters.
