China’s Zhang Shuai sails into second round at Roland Garros

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00:22

China's top-ranked tennis player Zhang Shuai crushed Slovakian Kristina Kucova 6-0, 7-5 to storm into the second round at the 2018 French Open on Tuesday.

Zhang, who posted her best record of last 32 last year at Roland Garros, came out firing on all cylinders and made a blazing start against her 260th-placed opponent as she went on to win six games in a row in the first set.

After her emphatic first-round win, Zhang said: “The first set was much easier than what I expected. She conceded too many errors.”

However, the second set turned out to be a relatively difficult one as Kucova improved her forehand quality and put up some resistance. With the two players holding serves for a 2-2 tie, Kucova broke for an upper hand. Zhang clawed her way back into the game and broke Kucova's service in the sixth game before winning two successive games to seal a second-round berth.

Zhang Shuai plays a backhand during the ladies singles first round match against Kristina Kucova of Slovakia at Roland Garros. /VCG Photo‍

“I know it won't be that easy to finish the job," mentioned Zhang. “I lost my concentration a bit midway through the match, and my opponent became more aggressive then, so I found myself in difficulty.”

“It was lucky that I won at last,” she added.

Zhang will next face her regular training partner and Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu. “She is adept on clay, and pretty powerful. I often learn footsteps and spinners from her. Hopefully I will have a good performance in the next round," Zhang said.

(With inputs from Xinhua)