Jelena Jankovic & Sam Stosur have enjoyed a smooth start to their 2015 Internationaux de Strasbourg campaigns, as the two biggest names in the tournament draw have successfully completed their first matches on French clay.
Both players joined the event in somewhat of a late fashion, accepting wildcards and so far the former world #1 and the US Open champion have lived up to their reputation.
Jelena Jankovic finished her first match in Strasbourg in straight sets, getting past Irina Falconi without major problems. Afterwards, Jankovic complained about the courts playing slower than those in Rome where the Serbian had played her first tournament following her foot injury.
Meanwhile, Stosur had a major obstacle to overcome, drawing the 2014 Strasbourg champion Monica Puig for the first-round opponent. The match did not turn out as competitive as most observers would have expected though, since the reigning Strasbourg champion had a day to forget out on center court. Puig won just three games against Stosur, even getting bageled in the first set, ending her quest to defense of the Strasbourg title even before it had really begun.
The first half of the tournament’s second round will be in action tomorrow, including the duel between rising stars Ajla Tomljanovic & Shelby Rogers, the all-American matchup between Coco Vandeweghe & Sloane Stephens, as well as Jelena Jankovic’s second match against China’s Saisai Zheng.
Too bad for Monica. I like her tennis outfit though.