Sara Errani came back from a set down to beat Kiki Bertens 4-6 6-4 6-3 after two hours and 22 minutes at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro setting up a second round match against Barbora Strykova. Errani beat Strykova in this year’s Dubai final last February.
Errani dropped her serve at 3-2. Bertens got another break at 4-3 but dropped her serve as she was serving for the set at 5-3. Errani was broken to 30 at 4-5 to drop the first set 6-4. Bertens hit 17 winners to 21 unforced errors.
Errani dropped her serve as she was leading 4-2 in the eighth game. Errani broke serve at 4-4. The Italian fought back from 0-30 by winning four consecutive points at 5-4 to hold her serve for 6-4 forcing the match to the third set, as Bertens hit her forehand winner wide on the set point.
Errani opened up a 5-2 lead in the decisive set but she dropped her serve to love in the eighth game. At 5-3 Errani won three consecutive points from 40-30. Errani got the break on the match point to close out the third set 6-3 as Bertens sent her backhand half-volley into the net on the match point.
