Kvitova completes emotional winning comeback at French Open

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova made a triumphant comeback at the French Open on Sunday with a 6:3 a 6:2 victory over 86th-ranked Julia Boserup from the US.

At No. 86, Boserup is just one place off her career-high ranking, and even in Kvitova’s pomp, consistency was never her strong point – so anything is possible.

“At the end of the match, it was really tough as I knew she wouldn’t give it to me – I had to win it”, said Makarova.

“I knew this day would come”, said Kvitova, who was attacked by an intruder past year. “I won for the second time, if I can say that”, she added.

Kvitova, 27, was attacked in her home in Prostejov, Czech Republic, on the morning of December 20, suffering deep cuts to all five fingers on her left hand, her dominant hand.

Czech star Kvitova will face Bethanie Mattek-Sands or Evgeniya Rodina in the next round.

This is published unedited from the ANI feed. “I did not really know what to expect and he can hit really hard with his forehand and backhand”.

As she closed it out, she dropped her racket and turned to her support box. The German became the first top seeded woman to lose in the opening round of the French Open since the sport went professional in 1968. The 31st-seeded Vinci, most famous for ending Serena Williams’ hopes of a calendar year Grand Slam by beating her in the semifinals at Flushing Meadows in 2015, lost to Rio Olympics gold medalist Monica Puig 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Simona Halep, the 2014 runner-up, established herself as arguably the leading challenger by winning the Madrid Open before reaching the Rome final, but an ankle injury has hampered her preparations.

“Well”, she said, “that’s unbelievable”. But she promptly double-faulted to hand the advantage back to Makarova.

But yesteday’s setback – albeit on a surface for which she has no great affection, having made an opening-round exit in Paris past year – threatens to leave her season in tatters.

In a marathon final game, Makarova would fight off seven break points to finally hold serve and reach the second round for the fifth time in Paris.

PARIS (AP) – Sweat-soaked and still wearing her match outfit, Petra Kvitova was looking for someone to hug as she wandered into the players’ lounge in the French Open’s main stadium shortly after leaving the court Sunday. “But I didn’t. I was just happy to be back, to see the crowd, to see my full box and the people who really support me all the time, thorugh a hard time”.

This will be Kvitova’s ninth appearance in the French Open.

The net seemed to have a sense of occasion and generously helped her out twice, although she scarcely needed it.