Petra Kvitova and Naomi Osaka tested, Victoria Azarenka exits

Shahida Jacobs

Petra Kvitova and Naomi Osaka were made to work for their wins at the French Open while Victoria Azarenka crashed out.

Two-time Grand Slam winner Kvitova is one of the favourites to secure the title at Roland Garros as she arrived in Paris on the back of winning the Prague Open and Madrid Masters.

However, she needed three sets to beat Veronica Cepede Royg with the Paraguayan winning the opening set before going down 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 in just over two hours.

Kvitova will take on Lara Arruabarrena next after the Spaniard beat Timea Babos 7-6, (7-5), 6-3.

Indian Wells Masters winner Osaka also didn’t have it all her own way during her 6-2, 7-5 win over Sofia Kenin.

Although she was broken once by the American in the opening set, Osaka won it comfortably while the match looked to be heading for a third set as Kenin had a 5-1 lead in the second with two breaks, but the Japanese player stormed back with three consecutive breaks.

Azarenka lost 7-5, 7-5 against Katerina Siniakova, who reached the second round of the French Open forthe first time.

One break of serve was enough in the opener, but both players struggled with their serves in the second set with Siniakova edging the breaks 4-3.

Italian Camila Giorgi also advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 win over American Grace Min while Greek Maria Sakarri beat Mandy Minella 7-6 (7-5), 6-2.

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