On Day 4 of Roland Garros 2017, defending champion Garbine Muguruza survived a scare but advanced to the third round, while Petra Kvitova‘s return to action came to an end in her second match at the tournament.
The fourth-seeded Muguruza was a set and a break down before beating world No.53 Anett Kontaveit 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2, the Estonian who had earned her first Top 10 win by beating the Spaniard during this claycourt season at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. This time, Muguruza managed to fight back, winning five of the last six games in the second set and then the last four games in the third set to continue her title defense.
The 15th-seeded Kvitova had remarkably opened her comeback with a first-round win at the French Open, but fell at the hands of Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the second round, albeit after two close tiebreaks, 7-6(5) 7-6(5).
Wearing a recognizable cherry-printed top, qualifier Mattek-Sands recorded her best Grand Slam result in almost two years. As even the score suggests, it was a close fight and it’s evident that Kvitova just needs to pile up more matches to get back in full form following a life-threatening knife attack. The Czech is now looking forward to the grasscourt season and Wimbledon where she’s a two-time champion.
Let’s also note that young American Catherine Bellis ousted freshly-crowned Nürnberg champion and last year’s French Open semifinalist Kiki Bertens, 6-3 7-6(5). In other news, there are no surprises, as seeds Venus Williams, Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Wozniacki all won their second-round matches in straight sets.
Stay tuned, as tonight I’ll post all my photographer’s WTA photos from Wednesday at the French Open.
Anett played so well. I thought she will bounced Garbi but the defending champion was able to hold on. Petra’s comeback may be short but it was so fruitful. Cici Bellis is playing so well. She’s the next superstar.