Halep fights back in delayed opener, Kvitova into last 32

World number one Simona Halep battled back after a disastrous opening set to beat Alison Riske 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 in their delayed French Open first-round match today, while Petra Kvitova impressed in reaching round three.

Halep, the runner-up in Paris in 2014 and 2017, slumped 0-5 down in the opening set to world number 83 Riske whose only win at the tournament came in 2014.

The Romanian committed 16 unforced errors in the set but stepped up a gear from that point on to book a second-round match against Taylor Townsend of the United States.

"It's always difficult in the first round of a Grand Slam, you are always nervous," said Halep.

"But I started to run more, played better and kept more balls in play." The 26-year-old, who is still looking for a first Grand Slam title, will play for the second straight day on
- Kvitova marches on -
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