PARIS – World number two Serena Williams endured an almighty struggle to win her first claycourt match in 12 months on Tuesday as Roland Garros’s brief flirtation with summer came to a chilly end.
Williams, the second seed and 2002 champion, spurned eight match points en route to a hard-fought 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 victory over Czech Klara Zakopalova.
It was the American’s first claycourt win since the second round here last year and avenged her surprise defeat to the Czech girl in the first round in Marbella in April.
But what looked like a routine win, when she was a set and 5-4 up, turned into a battle of attrition before Williams, the holder of 10 Grand Slam titles, rescued the situation.
“I think I played a very good match and I think Serena will be playing better and better, so it was my best chance to beat her,” said a glum Zakopalova.
There was an emotional return to Roland Garros, after a five-year absence, for Australia’s Jelena Dokic.
The 26-year-old, whose career and life were in a tailspin until a magical run to the Australian Open quarterfinals this year, beat Slovenia’s Karolina Sprem, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Men’s fourth seed Novak Djokovic opened his campaign with victory when Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti, 10 years his senior, was forced to retire with a left ankle injury which needed constant attention in their 78-minute encounter.
Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro was untroubled in a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win over France’s Michael Llodra. (AP)