French Open, day 3 women’s roundup: Pliskova survives, Ostapenko wins first match since 2017 title

Second seed Karolina Pliskova ended Mayar Sherif’s fairytale Grand Slam breakthrough to set up a Roland Garros second round clash against former champion Jelena Ostapenko on Tuesday.

Pliskova, a semi-finalist in 2017, squandered eight set points in the opening set as world number 172 Sherif, the first Egyptian woman to play in the main draw at a Slam, took a shock lead.

However, the Czech’s greater experience eventually told as she recovered to progress 6-7 (9/11), 6-2, 6-4.

“I think she was playing very smart today. Of course she had a lot of confidence just winning three matches from quallies,” said Pliskova of her 24-year-old opponent. “She had nothing to lose.”

Latvia’s Ostapenko, the world 43, won her first match at the French Open since sweeping to her shock 2017 title when she fired 46 winners past Madison Brengle of the United States to win 6-2, 6-1.

“After I won here it was a tough time. I had to get used to the pressure but now it’s all gone,” said the 23-year-old Ostapenko.

I had to get used to pressure: Former champ Ostapenko on winning first French Open match in 3 years

Meanwhile, a row was brewing after French player Kristina Mladenovic suffered a controversial exit against Laura Siegemund when the German player won a point off what appeared to be a double bounce.

The incident, which came with Mladenovic 5-1 ahead and holding a set point in the opener, was missed by chair umpire Eva Asderaki.

World number 44 Mladenovic pleaded in vain and her German opponent took full advantage, racing into the next round 7-5, 6-3.

It was a second successive miserable Grand Slam for the 27-year-old Frenchwoman who was withdrawn from the doubles at the US Open earlier this month in a row over coronavirus.

Clara Tauson played down the inevitable comparisons to Caroline Wozniacki, her country’s only Grand Slam champion, after becoming just the second Danish woman to reach round two at a major since 1989.

The 17-year-old Tauson knocked out US Open semi-finalist Jennifer Brady in a nail-biting three-set clash on her Grand Slam main draw debut, having come through qualifying in Paris.

The former Australian Open junior champion saved two match points before clinching a 6-4, 3-6, 9-7 victory to set up a tie with Danielle Collins for a spot in the last 32.

Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin recovered from a break down in the final set to defeat 125th-ranked Russian Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Fourth seed Kenin, who dumped out Serena Williams in Paris a year ago, fought back from 2-0 down in the decider Tuesday to advance to a second-round tie against Romania’s Ana Bogdan.