Sam Stosur and Daria Gavrilova have both advanced to the third round at the French Open.
Sam Stosur has continued her love affair with the Paris clay advancing to the third round for the tenth straight year. She defeated her doubles partner from Russia Anastasia Paylyuchenkova 6-2, 7-6(1).
Stosur was broken in the first game, then broke back immediately. Both players then both for 2-2. Stosur held serve then broke again to lead 4-2. Stosur going on to win the first set 6-2.
Stosur was broken in the first game of the second set, then just as in the first set she immediately broke back. Players were finding it hard to hold serve, this time Stosur dropped her serve to give Paylyuchenkova a 2-1 lead. She held to lead 3-1, the went to a 0-30 lead. Stosur fought off break points before holding to trail 2-3. Stosur broke at 4-5 to level the set at 5-5.
Stosur held to lead 6-5.
Stosur was hitting with depth and precision in the opening rally, but then missed an easy shot to hand Pavlyuchenkova the first point. A great shot from Stosur made it 15-15. Stosur started to make errors to see her opponent go to 40-15. Stosur forced a volley error to get back to 40-30 before Pavlyuchenkova closed the game to take the set into a tie-break.
Stosur took the first point on serve to lead 1-0. Good hitting took Stosur out to 3-0.
Another point on serve for 4-0. A good kicking serve saw her opponent hit wide for 5-0. Stosur took the next point to hold six set points. Pavlyuchenkova saved one match point with a well-played volley but Stosur was serving next. Pavlyuchenkova hit a great return, but then Stosur hit a great shot to win the match and reach the third round for the 10th straight year.
Gavrilova, 2 double faults in the third game. Came back from 0-40 to get to deuce but then hit out to give another break point. Lost the game with a double fault.
Gavrilova brokeback and won the next game to lead 3-2. Pera gave a breakpoint at 2-3 with a double fault. A good wide serve setup Pera to push Gavrilova deep and wide from where she hit long.
Gavrilova earned another break point, but after a huge rally, Pera saved the break point with a drop shot. Another break point came for Gavrilova which she was able to convert to make it three games straight and a 4-2 lead. Gavrilova won the next game on serve to lead 5-2.
Pera held serve then was 0-30 up with Gavrilova serving for the set. Two break points at 15-40 for Pera. Pera broke back to be serving at 4-5. Pera held for 5-5. Gavrilova tried to play a volley and made a complete mess of it to give a break point. She followed that with a double fault to hand Pera the break.
Gavrilova earned a break back point but wasn’t able to convert. Pera then held serve to win the set after coming back from 5-2.
Gavrilova fell 1-4 in the second set before getting a break back to be serving at 2-4. Another break and Pera was serving for the set at 5-2.
Gavrilova had a break point but Pera served big to save it. Then a Gavrilova shot into the net brought up match point for Pera. A bit of a mishit from Gavrilova dropped onto the line to keep her in the match, then a double fault gave Gavrilova another break point. Pera hit long to concede the break. 3-5 Gavrilova serving.
Pera was looking in trouble and saw Gavrilova go out to 40-0 before a Gavrilova error made it 40-15 before Gavrilova held serve for Pera to attempt to serve out the match for the second time. Would we see a repeat of the first set in reverse where Pera come back from 2-5 down.
Pera opened the game with some solid hitting and hit a winner to go up 15-0. Gavrilova took the next point to make it 15-15.
Gavrilova hit a deep looping shot that Pera then hit into the net for 15-30.
The next point Pera was on top, making Gavrilova cover plenty of court before Pera pushed a shot wide to fall behind 15-40. Pera won the next point before losing the following point with a cheap error into the net to see the score at 5-5.
Gavrilova opened the next game with two points to go to 30-0, then a Pera unforced error made it 40-0. Pera had lost patience and went for a big down the line winner, but hit wide to concede the fourth game in a row to Gavrilova.
Pera hit long to concede the first point at 5-6. Now the wheels had really fallen off as she double-faulted for 0-30. Yet another unforced error from Pera brought up three set points for Gavrilova, it took just one as Pera hit into the net.
We ended up with a mirror image of the first set as Gavrilova won five games in a row to claim the second set.
Pera was looking a bit fatigued but still managed to open the set with a service break and then held for 2-0.
Four errors in a row from Pera saw Gavrilova take the set to 2-1.
A wild double fault from Pera gave Gavrilova a break back point which she failed to convert to take it back to deuce.
Big-hitting by Gavrilova had Pera running from side to side before from deep in the court Pera hit into the net for another break back point. Gavrilova wasted the opportunity with a bad unforced error.
49-48 was the unforced error count at this stage as Pera missed a shot to fall break point down. Pera tried a drop shot, but Gavrilova got to the ball and played a drop shot of her own to win the game and level the set at 2-2.
Gavrilova jumped out to 15-0 before just missing a shot down the line, then an unforced error into the net saw her at 15-30. Pera returned the favour with another unforced error into the net.
A great wide serve followed by a cross-court shot forced Pera into error. More big hitting by Gavrilova saw her take the lead at 3-2.
Pera opened the next game with a double fault. Pera hit a winner to make it 15-15. Another shot into the net from Pera for 15-30 and the pressure was on .
Pera was turning on the power hitting as Gavrilova was just hitting looping shots and Pera hit her 28th winner for 30-30. Gavrilova had missed her chance and saw Pera at game point before another shot into the net by Pera took it to deuce.
Errors were more prevalent than winners and we saw Gavrilova hit wide to give Pera advantage. A nice forehand from Gavrilova got her back to deuce. Then a double fault saw a breakpoint however Gavrilova hit long. Deuce.
A forehand that brushed the line set up another break point and she took advantage this time to take a 4-2 lead.
With more games being lost on serve than being won it was important for Gavrilova to get the first point, she did do that, but then a ripping backhand return saw Pera get to 15-15. Pera eased the pressure with a wild return. Gavrilova hit a nice shot down the line to see game point at 40-15. Pera hit well long to give Gavrilova the game and a 5-2 lead.
Could she close it out?
Gavrilova brought up two match points at 15-40 but Pera hit a winner to save one, then wrong-footed Gavrilova to save the second.
Pera closed out the game to force Gavrilova to serve out the match.
Gavrilova served big to take the first point, then a down the line winner took her to 30-0. Good hitting forced an error from Pera and brought up three match points.
A great serve out wide gave Gavrilova the full court to hit a winner, but she missed that opportunity. Gavrilova was not letting the next one slip and a winner saw her take the match to setup a match against Elise Mertens.
