Opening main-draw play at Roland Garros this Sunday at 11 a.m., Elina Svitolina overcame a slow start against Ajla Tomljanovic on Court Suzanne Lenglen to advance into the second round 7-5 6-3.
Fresh off her title defense at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, the world No.4 Svitolina had a very shaky opening against Tomljanovic, facing a 5-1 deficit in the first set. However, the Ukrainian responded by taking six games in a row to win the first set and then two more to go 2-0 in the second. Australia’s Tomljanovic broke back and leveled to 2-2, but even though she has good forehand, backhand and serve, she lacks consistency and she never recovered from failing to close out the first set, so favorite Svitolina avoided an upset.