Former winners Simona Halep and Jelena Ostapenko have both reached the second round of the French Open, avoiding the fate of holder Barbora Krejcikova and 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza.
The pair will be joined in the second round by last year’s Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova, who came through a tricky tie on Tuesday, and this year’s Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins.
Halep eventually turned on the style in a strange match against 18-year-old German lucky loser Nastasja Schunk.
Having won the first set 6-4 she lost the second 1-6 before reversing that score in the third.
“Last year I didn’t play, so I really missed it. I’m actually happy with the victory, even if it was difficult,” Halep said.
“She was playing super well in the second set. She was hitting the ball strong and I didn’t have a response. In the end I stayed focused and stayed strong, and I’m really happy I finished this match. It’s always tough the first round.”
Ostapenko, the 2017 champion, ended a five-match losing streak with a 6-1 6-4 win over Lucia Bronzetti to advance to meet Alize Cornet, who saw off Japan’s Misaki Doi in straight…
