Mirra Andreeva underlined her claycourt credentials again at the French Open when the Russian teenager methodically took apart Ashlyn Krueger, and third seed Jessica Pegula also moved into the third round on Thursday.
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Andreeva, a surprise Roland Garros semifinalist in 2024, confirmed her calibre on the sport's slowest surface with runs to the Madrid and Rome quarter-finals this season, and she had to be at her inventive best to beat the powerful Krueger 6-3 6-4.
The 18-year-old sixth seed found herself an early break down on Court Simonne Mathieu but fought back to secure the first set, before mixing up her game with exquisite sliced forehands in the next to see off her American opponent.
"This match wasn't easy, I'd lost to her at the US Open," Andreeva said, reflecting on her second-round defeat by Krueger in New York last August.
"She's a powerful and aggressive player. I knew I had to play well ... I suffered and struggled with my serve, but I'm happy I found a way to stay calm.
"I pushed myself to fight until the end."
Pegula, Krueger's frequent doubles partner this season and French Open third seed, had to battle hard against fellow American Ann Li but found her best level when it mattered to prevail 6-3 7-6(3) in windy conditions.
Up next for the 2024 US Open runner-up is former Paris finalist Marketa Vondrousova, after the Czech sent 25th seed Magdalena Frech packing 6-0 4-6 6-3.
GAUFF MARCHES PAST VALENTOVA
Second seed Coco Gauff moved into the third round by beating unseeded Czech Tereza Valentova 6-2 6-4 although the American did not have things all her own way.
Gauff came under threat from the 18-year-old Valentova's powerful serve but found a way past her thanks to her relentless returning and powerful groundstrokes.
"She's very young and I knew it would be a tough match," 2022 runner-up Gauff said.
The 21-year-old took the opening set in 35 minutes but a string of service breaks, three in total, made the second a lot more competitive as her Czech opponent refused to go down quietly.
Gauff, a finalist in Madrid and Rome this year, will next take on Marie Bouzkova
KENIN BATTLES PAST AZARENKA
Former French Open runner-up Sofia Kenin showed her fighting qualities to beat unseeded Belarusian Victoria Azarenka 7-6(5) 6-4 in an intriguing meeting between Grand Slam champions.
The American 31st seed, who reached the Paris final in 2020 and fell to Iga Swiatek, rallied from 5-2 down in the first set against fellow former Australian Open champion Azarenka and won a tight tiebreak to gain the upper hand in the clash.
Kenin, who has climbed back up the world rankings to number 30 after plummeting to 235 in 2023 due to injuries, illness and off-court issues, went toe-to-toe with Azarenka again in the next set as another tiebreak seemed inevitable.
The American secured the crucial break in the 10th game, however, and wrapped up the match to book an encounter with her compatriot and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys after the seventh seed beat Katie Boulter 6-1 6-3.
OTHER RESULTS
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ x32) bt Joanna Garland (TWN) 7-6 (7/5), 6-3
Paula Badosa (ESP x10) bt Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROM) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Elsa Jacquemot (FRA) bt Alycia Parks (USA) 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1
Lois Boisson (FRA) bt Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) 6-1, 6-2
Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) bt Magdalena Frech (POL x25) 6-0, 4-6, 6-3
Madison Keys (USA x7) bt Katie Boulter (GBR) 6-1, 6-3
Hailey Baptiste (USA) bt Nao Hibino (JPN) 6-3, 6-2
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP) bt Robin Montgomery (USA) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) bt Barbora Krejcikova (CZE x15) 6-0, 6-3
Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS x20) bt Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) 6-1, 6-3
Marie Bouzkova (CZE) bt Sonay Kartal (GBR) 6-1, 6-4