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Serena Williams fights off upset at French Open

Sep 28, 2020; Paris, France; Serena Williams (USA) reacts during her match against Kristie Ahn (USA) on day two of the 2020 French Open at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2020; Paris, France; Serena Williams (USA) reacts during her match against Kristie Ahn (USA) on day two of the 2020 French Open at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Three-time French Open champ Serena Williams survived her first-round match at Roland Garros, defeating Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 7-6(6), 6-2 at the first-ever night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The day of tennis in Paris was overshadowed by the withdrawal of Naomi Osaka, who pulled out citing distractions associated with her media obligations.

Williams fought off a pair of set points in winning the first set, ultimately taking the match in an hour and 42 minutes.

“I have to say it was pretty cool to be able to play the first night session ever here at Roland Garros,” Williams said. “That was something I thoroughly enjoyed.”

The tournament’s seventh seed, Williams had eight break points during the match, converting five, and had 27 winners to 18 for Begu.

Williams moves to the second round and a meeting with another Romanian, Mihaela Buzarnescu, who took out The Netherlands’ Arantxa Rus, 7-5, 7-5.

Williams helped herself in the first set with consecutive aces from deuce to go up 5-2. Begu rallied to win the next four games but couldn’t hold serve, and Williams pulled even to set up the tiebreaker.

Begu used her strong serve to grab a 6-4 advantage, but Williams stormed back and took the next four points with winning rallies.

“I’m happy that I was able to save those moments,” Williams said. “Did not want to lose that first set. I wasn’t thinking at that moment. I was just thinking to get that ball out the air, because I’ve been hitting some good swing volleys in practice.”

The American, with 23 majors already tucked away, then seized the opportunity and closed out the match on a strong service game.

While the Williams victory was expected, Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk’s upset of 2016 champion and No. 12 seed Garbine Muguruza was not.

Kostyuk, 18, rolled to an early advantage over the Spaniard, and gutted out the second set to finish the surprise, 6-1, 6-4.

“I was so ready and so prepared,” Kostyuk said. “My aggressive game today, I’m really glad it worked. I want to keep on going with this game.”

The victory, accomplished in an hour and 29 minutes, was Kostyuk’s first against a Top 20 opponent.

Ranked No. 81 in the world, Kostyuk powered her way to 16 winners and four breaks of serve. Muguruza had only nine winners.

Other seeded players on Monday earning their way into the second round included No. 4 Sofia Kenin, No. 8 Iga Swiatek, No. 10 Belinda Bencic and No. 14 Elise Mertens.

–Field Level Media

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