Advertisement

Zakopalova, Pavlyuchenkova win in WTA stop in Paris

Klara Zakopalova, shown in a 2012 French Open, was a straight-set winner Monday as the GDF Suez Open WTA tennis tournament began in Paris. UPI/David Silpa
Klara Zakopalova, shown in a 2012 French Open, was a straight-set winner Monday as the GDF Suez Open WTA tennis tournament began in Paris. UPI/David Silpa | License Photo

PARIS, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Klara Zakopalova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova posted wins Monday in opening-day play at the GDF Suez Open tennis tournament in Paris.

Zakopalova defeated French wild-card entrant Caroline Garcia 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 in the first match of the main draw. Zakopalova won half the points when Garcia served and finished off six of her 14 break opportunities.

Advertisement

Pavlyuchenkova got by Francesca Schiavone 1-6, 6-4, 6-1. After the first set in which she managed to win just 15 points, Pavlyuchenkova evened the match with two breaks in the second set and advanced with two more in the third.

Pavlyuchenkova took 62 percent of the points over the last two sets, a statistic enhanced by her winning 72 percent of the points on serve and dropping 14 points overall in the third set.

The tournament field features five Top 10 players, including top-seeded Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep, who on Monday reached No. 10 in the rankings for the first time.

Latest Headlines