World No.1 Angelique Kerber had to battle back from a set down to defeat Italy’s Francesca Schiavone 4-6, 6-0, 6-4, in the first round of the Monterrey Open in Mexico.
The current US Open champion struggled for consistency throughout the opening stages of the match against a spirited Schiavone, who is playing her last season on the tour. Despite the scare, Kerber managed to turn around her fortunes with a clinical second set performance, where she dropped just three points on serve, followed by an early break at the start of the decider. After the opening set, the German didn’t face a single break point.
“It was not so easy to find the rhythm in the first set, because she played very well from the first ball and I was trying to find my game,” Kerber said.
“I was a little bit tight today (Tuesday), but after the second set I was playing my game and moving good. I’m happy that I stayed positive.”
Kerber, who is yet to win a title in 2017, will play Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella in the second round. Minella overcame Bulgaria’s Elitsa Kostova 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, in her opening match. It will be the first ever meeting between the two players on the tour.
“I will be looking more on my side of the court,” Kerber explained. “I’ll be trying to go out and enjoy the match and try to be aggressive. I think I’ve never played against her, but I think it will be a good match as well.”
Fourth seed Carla Suarez Navarro enjoyed a straightforward 6-2, 6-4, win over Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck in what is only her second match win of the season. The two-time French Open quarter-finalist has experienced a torrid start to 2017 after being sidelined from action due to a shoulder injury. Following her victory, the Spaniard provided a cautious outlook about her current form.
“I still don’t feel 100% yet, not yet,” she admitted. “Always when you have an injury it’s not so easy to come back, but I feel good today. I think I played a really good match.”
Defending champion Heather Watson held her nerve to down Nina Stojanovic 6-2 6-7 (7-9) 6-4. The British No.3 failed to convert a duo of match points in the second set before grabbing the critical break at the start of the third.
Watson has fallen outside the top-100 after a disappointing start to the year. The world No.125 is yet to win back-to-back matches in a tournament and will next play Russian sixth seed Ekaterina Makarova.
Other first round winners in Mexico include fifth seed Timea Babos and seventh seed Alize Cornet.
Tuesday’s results
Angelique Kerber (GER x1) bt Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 4-6, 6-0, 6-4
Mandy Minella (LUX) bt Elitsa Kostova (BUL) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3
Heather Watson (GBR) bt Nina Stojanovic (SRB) 6-2, 6-7 (7/9), 6-4
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x6) bt Denisa Allertova (CZE) 6-4, 6-3
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP x4) bt Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 6-2, 6-4
Alize Cornet (FRA x7) bt Irina Khromacheva (RUS) 6-1, 6-4
Tereza Martincova (CZE) bt Christina McHale (USA x8) 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
Nadia Podoroska (ARG) bt Madison Brengle (USA) 7-5, 0-6, 6-3
Timea Babos (HUN x5) bt Lesley Kerkhove (NED) 6-1, 6-3
Kristie Ahn (USA) bt Jana Cepelova (SVK) 6-4, 6-2
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