Karolina Pliskova, Elina Svitolina, Sloane Stephens off the mark at French Open

Second seed Karolina Pliskova looked every bit one of the favourites for the title at Roland Garros as she dispatched Madison Brengle in the first round while Sloane Stephens and Elina Svitolina also moved along.
Fresh from winning the Italian Open, Pliskova had no problems seeing off American Brengle 6-2, 6-3 in an hour.
Brengle actually had the early advantage as she broke in game two, but the Czech won the next six games and broke another four times in the second set, although her unseeded opponent also broke twice.
“The beginning of the clay court season was not the best for me,” Pliskova said after the match. “I was missing a couple of matches, which I managed to play in Rome, so I think from there my tennis has been improving match by match. I got the title, which is always good before a Grand Slam. I hope to play good tennis here too!”
Up next is Slovak qualifier Kristina Kucova, who beat 2009 French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-2.
Seventh seed Sloane Stephens had more of a workout, but was still too strong for Misaki Doi, winning 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
Super Start 💯
Last year's finalist @SloaneStephens roars her way into the second round taking the first career meeting between her and Misaki Doi 6-3 7-6(4).#RG19 pic.twitter.com/SweAwXW5Er
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2019
The 2018 Roland Garros runner-up broke twice in a comfortable opening set, but then traded a couple of breaks with Doi in the second set before taking the tie-breaker.
Ninth seed Svitolina was given a tough opening draw as she was paired with former world No 1 Venus Williams, but she made light of it as she won 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and 14 minutes.
Smiles for Svitolina 😄@ElinaSvitolina notches her first win on the clay of the season taking down Venus Williams 6-3 6-3.#RG19 pic.twitter.com/1P1LOSTkN4
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2019
There were six breaks of serve in the first set with Svitolina taking it 4-2 and five in the second with the Ukrainian edging it 3-2.
The 15th seeded Belinda Bencic opened her campaign with a solid 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Jessika Ponchet and Kristina Mladenovic was a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) winner over Fiona Ferro.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
-
French Open 2019: Tennis365 writers cast their predictions for Roland Garros
-
Five Roland Garros contenders: Rafael Nadal still very much the boss at French Open
-
Five Roland Garros contenders: Kiki Bertens primed to make her breakthrough
-
French Open betting preview: Bookies can’t see past the King of Clay Rafael Nadal in Paris
-
Latest
-
WTA Tour
Iga Swiatek to kick off her grass season at Berlin Open
Iga Swiatek to start her grass court swing in the same country as her clay swing.
-
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz and Andy Murray confirmed for Queen’s as Scot also signs up for Surbiton event
Big names, including Carlos Alcaraz, Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini, set for Queen’s Club.
-
French Open
Novak Djokovic ‘has a feeling of revenge within him’ ahead of Roland Garros, says Mats Wilander
Mats Wilander backing Novak Djokovic to win back-to-back French Open titles.
-
Tennis News
Simona Halep feeling refreshed as she reveals Patrick Mouratoglou ‘helped me to find my love for tennis again’
Simona Halep thriving under Patrick Mouratoglou.
-
French Open
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova out of French Open and will skip rest of 2022 season due to injury
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova set for lengthy spell on the sidelines.
-
French Open
Rafael Nadal the favourite to win French Open, but Patrick McEnroe is ‘leaning towards’ Novak Djokovic
Patrick McEnroe has his say on the battle for the French Open title.
-
WTA Tour
Emma Raducanu joined by Simona Halep, Sloane Stephens, Jelena Ostapenko at Birmingham event
Quality field set for Rothesay Classic Birmingham.
-
French Open
Daniil Medvedev ‘should be ready for Roland Garros’ as he gives his verdict after Geneva Open defeat
Some positives and some negatives for Daniil Medvedev.
-
ATP Tour
Cameron Norrie continues ‘pretty relaxed and perfect Roland Garros preparation’ with solid run in Lyon
Cameron Norrie into the last eight of the Lyon Open.
-
French Open
Former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova out of Roland Garros after undergoing ‘small surgery’
Marketa Vondrousova withdraws from French Open.