Paris:
Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has overcome a slow start to beat Sorana Cirstea in the opening center-court match at the French Open.
Kuznetsova lost the first six points and the first three games, then won nine games in a row and beat Cirstea 6-3, 6-1 on Sunday. Three times Kuznetsova won games after losing the first three points.
Seeded sixth, the Russian arrived at Roland Garros with only a 1-3 record on clay this year, and she drew a dangerous opening opponent in Cirstea, a quarterfinalist a year ago.
Kuznetsova needed 12 minutes to win a game, then found her form. Cirstea squandered chances to get back into the match in the second set, when she failed to convert all four break points.
Kuznetsova lost the first six points and the first three games, then won nine games in a row and beat Cirstea 6-3, 6-1 on Sunday. Three times Kuznetsova won games after losing the first three points.
Seeded sixth, the Russian arrived at Roland Garros with only a 1-3 record on clay this year, and she drew a dangerous opening opponent in Cirstea, a quarterfinalist a year ago.
Kuznetsova needed 12 minutes to win a game, then found her form. Cirstea squandered chances to get back into the match in the second set, when she failed to convert all four break points.
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