Su-Wei Hsieh of Chinese Taipei rallied from a first-set loss to shock seventh-seeded Johanna Konta of Great Britain with a 1-6,7-6 (2) , 6-4 win on Tuesday to advance to round two of the French Open at Roland Garros.
Su-Wei Hsieh of Chinese Taipei rallied from a first-set loss to shock seventh-seeded Johanna Konta of Great Britain with a 1-6,7-6 (2) , 6-4 win on Tuesday to advance to round two of the French Open at Roland Garros.
Hsieh, No. 109 in the WTA Rankings, saved four break points while serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set before sealing the victory over the eighth-ranked Konta on the second match point.
It was Hsieh’s first career victory over a top 10 player in 15 tries.
Hsieh was formerly part of the No. 1 ranked doubles pairing alongside Peng Shuai. The two won the women’s pairs at Roland Garros in 2014.
Konta is without a main draw victory in three career French Open appearances.
” (After the first set) I created opportunities, (but) I didn’t do well enough in converting them. But (Hsieh) did play incredibly well, ” Konta said.
“There were some points there where I didn’t do much wrong, and she surprised me with how well she moved on the clay and how solid she was. She’s an unorthodox player, but uses the best of her ability to her advantage.”
The 31-year-old Hsieh will face American Taylor Townsend in the second round. Townsend toppled Japanese qualifier Miyu Kato 6-4,6-0 in her first-round match.
Fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine moved past Russian Yaroslava Shvedova in straight sets 6-4,6-3.
Svitolina broke serve in the last Shvedova service game of each set en route to her 76-minute victory.
“I think it was quite tough match for the first round to have Yaroslava was quite tough draw, ” Svitolina said. “I lost to her in Wimbledon last year, but I knew I’m playing much better, physically I’m much better, stronger. That’s why I had a little bit more confidence than the last time.”
Svitolina faces Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova in the second round after Pironkova’s 6-0,6-4 victory against Germany’s Mona Barthel.
American 12th seed Madison Keys also brushed aside Great Britain’s Ashleigh Barty 6-3,6-2.
Also advancing were 20th seeded Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic, No. 21 Carla Suarez-Navarro of Spain and No. 28 Caroline Garcia of France.
Strycova rolled past American Alison Riske 6-3,6-0, Suarez-Navarro registered a 6-4,6-2 victory over Greece’s Maria Sakkari and Garcia scored a 6-2,6-2 win over Japan’s Nao Hibino.
