Petra Kvitova escapes first-round scare at French Open

PARIS -- Screaming in anger and hitting her racket on the red clay of Court Philippe Chatrier, Petra Kvitova came close to exiting the French Open on the first day of the Grand Slam tournament.

On a rainy Sunday, the two-time Wimbledon champion was pushed to a suspenseful three-set battle by 59th-ranked Danka Kovinic, who served for the match before Kvitova raised her game and eventually prevailed 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, taking the last three games.

In the men's draw, 17th-seeded Nick Kyrgios lost his temper and received a warning for shouting at a ball kid, but the 21-year-old Australian had no problem advancing to the second round with a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6), 6-4 win over Marco Cecchinalo. Also advancing before rain halted play early in the afternoon was No. 19 Benoit Paire.

Of the 32 matches on Sunday's schedule, only 10 were completed before the announcement to cancel all matches for the day came at 6:28 p.m. local time.

Fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan led Simone Bolelli of Italy 6-1, 5-4, and No. 23 Jack Sock of the United States was up 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-1 against Robin Haase of the Netherlands when covers were brought on all courts.

Facing a player who never got beyond the second round at any major, Kvitova looked set for a comfortable start to her campaign in the French capital after breaking Kovinic twice to seal the first set 6-2 and opening a 3-1 lead in the second.

Kovinic, of Montenegro, then changed her approach and destabilized Kvitova with her deep groundstrokes.

"I saw in the first set that my balls were very short and she controlled every point," the 21-year-old Kovinic said. "I tried to play longer points and with more spins in the second set, and it seemed good."

Kovinic produced a superb lob to even the match at one set apiece and continued to apply pressure on Kvitova with her powerful tennis.

Showing her frustration, Kvitova smacked her racket on the ground after hitting a double fault and fluffing a backhand in the ninth game of the decider. The Czech hit two more double faults in that game to drop her serve. But with her back against the wall, Kvitova recovered with a series of winners, including a backhand down the line to break back.

She then won eight of the next 10 points.

"It was a big fight again. I'm happy that I won it," Kvitova said. "I played a lot of three-set matches, but it's not my plan when I'm stepping on the court. I think that from the experience which I have already, I still can believe that I still can win it. Even if she's serving for the match."

Kvitova, who raised her modest record to 12-11 for the year, comes off a disappointing tournament in Rome, where she lost her first match to American Madison Keys.

In January, Kvitova lost in the second round of the Australian Open, to Daria Gavrilova, her earliest exit in her past eight majors. Her post-match comments suggested she still wrestles with a career-long malady of wavering confidence.

"I think that from the experience, which I have already, I still can believe that I still can win it," Kvitova said. "Even she's serving for the match or something like that. It's really like difficult and close situation in a match, but I still am trying to trust myself."

Earlier, 24th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova became the first player to advance to the second round with a 6-2, 6-0 win over qualifier Sara Sorribes Tormo.

About six months after the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris, heightened security at Roland Garros was noticeable Sunday, including extra bag checks and pat-downs that led to longer-than-usual waits at the entrance gates.

Information from ESPN's Greg Garber was used in this report.

INSIDER DRAW ANALYSIS: STUTTGART

WTA Insider David Kane | The clay season begins in earnest at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix; what are the biggest storylines surrounding one of the most packed fields on tour?

1. Who is healthy?

Top seed Angieszka Radwanska reclaimed the World No.2 ranking last week when reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber failed to defend her title at the Volvo Car Open. Arguably the most consistent player of the last six months, Radwanska has reached the semifinals or better of all but one of her five WTA appearances in 2016 - that being a hard-fought Miami Open loss to eventual semifinalist Timea Bacsinszky in the round of 16.

However, all of those matches might be catching up with the Pole, who withdrew from her home tournament in Katowice and the Fed Cup World Group II Play-off due to a right shoulder injury. Heading onto what has traditionally been her least successful surface, Radwanska has few points to defend through the French Open, winning just two matches during last season's clay court swing.

Click here to check out the Stuttgart draw.

Still, Stuttgart's notoriously stacked draw means she will have to hit the ground running after a first round bye, facing one of two Fed Cup heroines in Andrea Petkovic and Kristina Mladenovic. No.8 seed Lucie Safarova, Karolina Pliskova, and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic are all possible quarterfinal opponents.

With far more to defend ahead of the second Grand Slam of 2016 is former French Open finalistSimona Halep. One of the most natural clay court players in the field, the Romanian reached the semifinals of Stuttgart and Rome, but admitted to picking up a left ankle injury in her three-set win over Andrea Petkovic in Fed Cup. Unsure if she would play her second match against Germany on Sunday, Halep won only four games against Kerber, who had never beaten Halep in three previous encounters.

Seeded fourth in Stuttgart, the former World No.2 will have a few extra days ot recover, but is in a section full of dangerous floaters like Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 2011 champion Julia Goerges, Alizé Cornet and Ekaterina Makarova. No.6 seed Roberta Vinci rounds out the top half of the draw.

2. Can Kerber and Suárez Navarro rebound on red clay?

Kerber won the second of four Premier titles in Stuttgart last year, outlasting an in-form Caroline Wozniacki in three grueling sets. The German shook off a minor post-Melbourne slump to reach the semifinals in Miami and Charleston, where a viral illness forced her to retire against Sloane Stephens. More at home on faster surfaces, Kerber can still get things down in Stuttgart's slow conditions; seeded second, she'll play either a qualifier or countrywoman Annika Beck, whom she beat en route to her Australian Open title.

Her possible quarterfinal opponent could be another Aussie redux in semifinalist Johanna Konta, but all eyes will be on No.7 seed Carla Suárez Navarro. The story of the season's first six weeks, Suárez Navarro rocketed up the rankings with a solid Middle Eastern Swing and a title in Doha, but an ankle injury halted her momentum and her inability to defend her Miami Open points caused her to fall from No.6 to No.11.

A finalist last year in Rome, the Spaniard had few problems in Fed Cup, dropping just two games against Roberta Vinci. She may trail Kerber in the overall head-to-head, but their only clay court meeting came two years ago in Stuttgart. The winner? Suárez Navarro, in straight sets.

3. Will Garbiñe Muguruza bring her Fed Cup form to Stuttgart?

Despite a slow start to 2016, Muguruza appeared to be putting the pieces together in Miami, playing one of the best matches of the year against former No.1 Victoria Azarenka. Traveling to Lleida for a relegation Fed Cup tie against the once unstoppable Italians, the Spaniard made a seamless transition to the terre battue with a pair of straight set victories over 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone and Vinci, whom she defeated, 6-2, 6-2.

Known for her breakout run to the 2015 Wimbledon final, Muguruza is perfectly capable on clay, having twice made the quarterfinals of Roland Garros - defeating World No.1 Serena Williams in the second round back in 2014. The No.3 seed in Stuttgart, she will open against Sabine Lisicki or Timea Babos, a fast-rising Hungarian who nearly upset Kerber under the lights in Miami.

No.5 seed Petra Kvitova is her projected quarterfinal opponent, but Monica Niculescu or Caroline Garcia could just as easily take their own impressive form from Fed Cup to take out the two-time Wimbledon winner.

4. Which hometown favorite is poised for a breakout run?

Though Germany boasts six women in the Top 60, only four may be eligible for the Olympic Summer Games; with less than two months before the teams are selected, the results through the clay court swing will be crucial to determining which women make the cut to qualify for Rio.

How tight is the race for the German Olympic team? As of April 18th, No.4 and No.5 Sabine Lisicki and Anna-Lena Friedsam are separated by just two places in the WTA rankings, at No.50 and No.52, respectively. Not too far behind at No.59, Julia Goerges is in the midst of a stellar season, having already reached a final in Auckland and another in doubles at the BNP Paribas Open.

All six women are in action this week in Stuttgart, led by Kerber and Petkovic, who are the only two ranked inside the Top 30. Goerges defeated then-No.1 Wozniacki to win the title here in 2011, while Lisicki will be hard-pressed to turn around a disappointing start to her season. Will any make strides towards those coveted Olympic spots?

5. How will Santina fare as they search for a second wind?

Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza began this season much as they ended the last, roaring through back-to-back titles in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and St. Petersburg before their 41-match winning streak came to an end in Doha. Since narrowly losing to Daria Kasatkina and Elena Vesnina in a match tie-break, Santina have been unable to string together wins, losing in the round of 16 in both Indian Wells and Miami - titles they won to cement their partnership in 2015.

Opting against the trip to Charleston, Hingis and Mirza look to regain their mojo as they aim to achieve their ultimate goal of a fourth straight major tournament, a "Santina Slam."

Playing on their least favorite surface, the co-No.1s should be able to play their way into form in the 16-team draw with only four seeds. Their biggest opposition looks to be No.2 seeds Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic. The French Connection swept the Charleston title in Santina's absence - defeating reigning French Open champions Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova in the final - and battled through a decisive doubles rubber to send France into the Fed Cup final on Sunday.

Under the radar is the unseeded Kveta Peschke. The former No.1 and 2011 Wimbledon champion is playing her first tournament since last year in Dubai; pairing with Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Peschke will open against No.4 seeds Raquel Atawo and Alicja Rosolska.

WTA Indian Wells: Petra Kvitova Comes From A Set Down To See Off Nicole Gibbs

Eighth seed Petra Kvitova was forced to dig deep on Tuesday afternoon to avert a big upset at the BNP Paribas Open, coming back from a set down to see off American qualifier Nicole Gibbs 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and two minutes. With this victory, Kvitova will now meet third seed Agnieszka Radwanska, in a rematch of their encounter at the 2015 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, where the Pole prevailed in three sets.

Gibbs Recovers from A Break Down to Take Opening Set

After beginning the match with three consecutive holds, it was unsurprisingly Kvitova who initiated the first break, using her heavy ground strokes to move Gibbs from side-to-side en route to claiming an early 3-1 lead. Not to be outdone, the American qualifier showed exactly why she already has 17 wins to her credit this season, grinding out points from the back of the court before breaking straight back. Just minutes later, Gibbs was able to restore parity at 3-all with some intelligent serving.

Nicole Gibbs serves to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. | Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America

As the set progressed, one could just sense that Kvitova was starting to go off the boil while Gibbs was rock solid from the back of the court. Unable to find her timing, the eighth seed quickly found herself staring down two break points in the following game. But this time, Gibbs did not wait for Kvitova to commit the error; the American proving she is equally comfortable on the offensive as she is on the defensive, breaking at the first time of asking with a stunning backhand pass.

From there, the rest of the set went with serve. Impressively, Gibbs was able to hold her own against the two-time Wimbledonchampion despite holding an unusually low first serve percentage for the majority of the set. As another unforced error flew off the racquet of Kvitova, Gibbs sealed the opening set 6-4, and was just a set away from the biggest win of her young career.

Kvitova Claims Decisive Break to Take Second Set

After a dismal end to the opening set, Kvitova picked up her game when it mattered most, painting the lines with some stunning winners en route to opening up a 3-0 lead. But much like in the opening set, Gibbs refused to give in, running down every ball to force errors out of her Czech counterpart. After an impressive start to the second set, Kvitova's lead had almost completely evaporated after Gibbs hit back, recovering the early break to reduce the deficit to 2-3.

However, all of that hard work ended in vain for the American qualifier as the eighth seed hit back, breaking once more to open a 4-2 lead. Though Gibbs was well on her way to making it three breaks in succession, Kvitova came up with the goods out of nowhere, saving three break points en route to holding for 5-2.

Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic celebrates against Nicole Gibbs during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. | Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America

Despite not taking any of her opportunities in the last game, Gibbs was not disheartened, and continued to show the same grit and fight en route to holding and forcing Kvitova to serve for the set at 5-3. This time, however, the world number nine had no difficulties behind her powerful serve, holding to win the second set 6-3 and force a decider.

Kvitova Clinches Decisive Break, Serves Her Way to Victory

After exchanging holds to open proceedings in the decider, it was Kvitova whose persistence was rewarded as she drew first blood in the decider, consequently opening up a 2-1 lead. Not to be outdone, Gibbs benefited from a couple of untimely miscues from the Czech to break straight back, much to the delight of the enthusiastic home crowd.

After exchanging breaks, the pair exchanged holds before the eighth seed began to make her move from the receiving end once more. Using her flat and powerful ground strokes to devastating effect, Kvitova was able to force errors out of Gibbs, who was admittedly frustrated herself for not making the most of her opportunities. As a result, the two-time former Wimbledon champion broke at a crucial time to take a 4-3 lead.

Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic serves to Nicole Gibbs during the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. | Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America

In the end, Kvitova's sheer power proved too much for Gibbs to handle as the rest of the set went with serve, ultimately resulting in a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory for the eighth seed against a very worthy opponent.

"It's always tough to come back after losing the first set and I really tried," Kvitova said in her post-match interview. "And I think the third set was a really good game from both of us and in the end, I'm the lucky one."

Kvitova's Win by the Numbers

Breaking five times out of seven opportunities, it is safe to say that Kvitova was the one dictating how the majority of this match would play out. In the end, the Czech overcame 46 unforced errors by hitting 27 winners -- two of them aces -- to secure a hard-fought victory.

Gibbs, on the other hand, was not as consistent as she would have liked, hitting just 11 winners to 26 unforced errors, but this has still been an incredible tournament for the American qualifier, one she will look to build on going forward.

Next up for Kvitova: Agnieszka Radwanska

Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic and Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland pose with their trophies after their final match during the BNP Paribas WTA Finals, which Radwanka won in three sets, at Singapore Sports Hub on November 1, 2015 in Singapore. | Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images AsiaPac

With this victory, Kvitova sets up an intriguing clash with third seed Agnieszka Radwanska, in a rematch of their 2015 WTA Finals final where the Pole triumphed in three sets. The pair have met nine times before, with the Czech holding a sizeable 6-3 head-to-head record against the Pole. With Kvitova's power matched with Radwanska's variety, this could prove to be an enthralling encounter for everyone involved.

Top-10 players Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska advance

American qualifier Nicole Gibbs' BNP Paribas Open run came to an end Tuesday afternoon after taking the first set from heavily-favored Petra Kvitova, the tournament's No. 8 seed.

Gibbs, who had already won three matches in the main draw, including a second-round victory over fellow American No. 23 Madison Keys, came back from a 3-1 deficit in the first set with two consecutive breaks of Kvitova and four games in-a-row before grabbing the first set 6-4.

But the 10-year veteran from the Czech Republic stormed out of the gates with wins in each of the first three games and thwarted a come-back attempt from Gibbs with another late break. After both players broke each other's serve in the third and fourth games of the third set, Kvitova's break of Gibbs in the seventh ended up making the difference.

Kvitova was one of a handful of top-ranked women's players to advance on Tuesday. The Czech tennis star will face third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanzka of Poland on Stadium Court at 12:30 p.m. Radwanska defeated 2010 BNP Paribas Open champion and 2015 runner-up Jelena Jankovic, 6-3, 6-3, on Stadium Court on Tuesday.

In the evening, World No. 1 Serena Williams will play against 2015 BNP Paribas Open champion Simona Halep, whom she would have played in last year's semifinal had she not withdrawn with a knee injury. Williams defeated Kateryna Bondarenko, 6-2, 6-2, and Halep defeated Barbora Strycova when Strycova retired in the second set in Stadium 3.

Former champion Azarenka into the quarterfinals

Former World No. 1 and 2012 BNP Paribas Open champion Victoria Azarenka is also in the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 win over Australia's Samantha Stosur on Tuesday evening in Stadium 2. Azarenka, last reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells.

"I'm just happy to be back on the court after a couple tough years of injuries," Azarenka said following her first match in Stadium 2. She'll play Magdalena Rybarikova in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Rybarikova defeated Roberta Vinci on Stadium Court in the concluding match of the evening. Vinci retired in the second set, walking off the court gingerly after losing the first set, 6-2, and trailing in the second, 2-0.

Bacsinszky into the quarterfinals again

Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland is into the quarterfinals for the second time in as many years at the BNP Paribas Open, after a decisive 6-4, 6-2 win over Daria 18-year-old Russian Daria Kasatkina on Tuesday. Bacsinzsky, who lost in 2015 to Serena Williams, will play against Johanna Konta of Australia on Thursday. Konta defeated Karolina Pliskova, 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3, in Stadium 3 just before Bacsinszky beat Kasatkina.

Maria Sharapova beats Petra Kvitova; Russia leads 2-1 in Fed Cup final

PRAGUE (AP) — Maria Sharapova came from a set down to defeat Petra Kvitova in the first reverse singles on Sunday to give Russia a 2-1 lead over defending champion Czech Republic in the Fed Cup final.

In a matchup of two top 10 players, the fourth-ranked Sharapova rallied to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over the sixth-ranked Kvitova to put Russia one win away from its first Fed Cup title since 2008.

In the second reverse singles, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova takes on Karolina Pliskova who needs to win to keep the Czechs in the best-of-five series.

The tie is played at Prague's O2 Arena, where security has been stepped up following the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Sharapova went 5-2 up in the final set before closing out with a forehand winner.

"Personally, it's an incredible achievement for me because I've never been in the Fed Cup final," Sharapova said. "And I won two of my matches."

In Saturday's singles, Kvitova put the host team ahead by beating Pavlyuchenkova 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 before Sharapova leveled the tie by defeating Pliskova 6-3, 6-4.

Sharapova, who helped Russia on its way to winning its last title in 2008, was playing in her first final. With the victory she improved her head-to-head record against Kvitova to 7-4.

Sharapova broke for a 5-4 lead before serving out the second set with a forehand winner to force the decisive third set.

"I felt that once I got the second set I got the energy back," the Russian said.

Kvitova attacked with a big forehand at early stages, putting Sharapova under pressure.

The Czech didn't waste time and broke her in the opening game and again in the final game of the first set when the Russian hit the net with a forehand volley on her first set point.

"Petra played unbelievable in the first set. She was so aggressive, hitting really deep all the strokes. I didn't have the momentum in the first set," Sharapova said.

In doubles, the Czech pair of Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova is set to playEkaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.

Australian Open 2015: Petra Kvitova ready to defend Sydney title

The last time Petra Kvitova was in Sydney, she was kissing the Sydney International champion's trophy.

It's unlikely that it was at this moment, after beating fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova to take out the Apia International, that Kvitova contracted the 'kissing disease'.

In a year that started promisingly and finished on a high - Kvitova was the runner-up in the season-ending WTA finals at Singapore and was part of the Czech team that clinched its fourth Fed Cup in five years - there was a very rough patch in the middle. The world No.6 was struck down by mononucleosis, a viral condition that can result in swollen glands, fevers and body aches.

Recovered: Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic stretches to effect a return. Photo: Getty Images

Dubbed the 'kissing disease' because it can be transmitted through saliva, Roger Federer showed few ill effects after being diagnosed in 2008. However, the virus effectively ended the careers of fellow players Mario Ancic and Robin Soderling.

With her immune system shot mid-year, Kvitova's results dipped.

"I was very tired," Kvitova said. "When I managed to wake up I was feeling I cannot prepare all the day.

"When I went to practice I couldn't have a hit for long, about half an hour. It was like 'OK, something is happening'. Finally we worked out why I'm feeling so weird and so tired."

While Kvitova said she needs to continue to "work through" the condition, her strong finish to the season suggests she is well on the road to recovery.

Consistency has always been an issue for Kvitova. The 25-year-old has twice won Wimbledon, most recently last year, and was once just a handful of ranking points outside the top spot. In Madrid this year, she ground Serena Williams into the red clay, losing just five games in a stunning upset en route to the title.

But her powerful groundstrokes are as likely to end up at the bottom of the net as kissing the baseline, depending on her health and head space. The 26-year-old's best performance at the Australian Open was a semi-final appearance in 2012, but her return to Sydney as the defending champion should ensure a strong lead-in to Melbourne Park.

"I'm really looking forward to coming back," she said. "It was a great week last year and a good preparation for the Australian Open. It's a beautiful city, I really love Australia. The people are nice and smiling all the time, it's nice to meet them."

Kvitova has won more than $US20 million so far. It is a fair haul for a player whose family was so poor they couldn't afford a car to drive her to tournaments during her childhood.

Her father, as is often the case in professional tennis, pushed Kvitova while coaching her through her teens.

"I practiced hour after hour after school every day and that was my day," she said.

"I remember one time my friend told me 'I want to go to swimming pool'. My father said no because I had to play. That's the kind of thing, as a kid, you find very sad, that you couldn't go. Now I [appreciate it] but still it was very hard at that moment."

Kvitova is finding a better balance in her life these days. Her boyfriend, Czech hockey player Radek Meidl, understands the demands of professional sporting life.

"It's good because he understands the life of sports, he has his own as well," she said. "We kind of understand each other, this is very good, a good bond, I'd have to say."

Petra Kvitova vs Sara Errani China Open tennis live: Errani in danger in Beijing

World no. 4 Petra Kvitova plays for just the second time since the US Open when she takes on former French Open finalist Sara Errani in the first round of the China Open on Sunday. The match is live at approximately 2pm local time (7am BST.)

As ever, the phenomenally talented Petra Kvitova has had a year that has gone up and down, largely on her own terms. A few early losses and sudden let-downs – like her third round Wimbledon loss to Jelena Jankovic – have punctuated her season-long campaign, but the process has been scattered with highs more often than in previous years. Channelling her devastating lefty power to perfection, Kvitova picked up her first win over world no. 1 Serena Williams back in May, and has also won titles at three events. One of these, in Sydney, kicked off her season, while another was the Premier event in Madrid. The most recent one, however, is the most significant, as Petra Kvitova has never really lost form since her victory in New Haven.

True, she has only played two tournaments since then – most notably the US Open, where she made the quarter-finals. But the Czech played great tennis throughout the duration of the two events, only stumbling when she self-destructed a little in falling to eventual New York champion Flavia Pennetta last month. And in Wuhan, she fell to Roberta Vinci, who was on a roll after her US Open final appearance.

In Beijing, Kvitova would be wise to seize the opportunity to show that she can sustain her great form. She is the closest thing the tournament has to a defending champion, after the withdrawal of Maria Sharapova – who beat the 25-year-old in last year's final.

As things stand, it doesn't look like she will have too much trouble. Sara Errani, the 2012 Roland Garros finalist, is scheduled to be her first round opponent, and while her abilities have obviously taken her to the heights, her counter-punching, scrambling game is not suited to Kvitova's sharp, powerful dominance. 

Currently ranked world no. 22, Errani hasn't had a bad year, claiming a WTA title at Rio de Janeiro in February and going deep at several other venues. But she hasn't beaten many top players at all, and Kvitova's calibre could overwhelm her. There is a reason that she isn't seeded in Beijing.

Petra Kvitova leads her head-to-head with Errani by a whopping six wins to love, with five of those triumphs coming on hard-courts.

Yet there is some hope for Sara Errani. The last three encounters between the pair have gone to the distance, with the most recent – all the way back in 2013 – being the closest. In that match, Errani pushed the Czech in a 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3 battle. And that match happened to take place here, in Beijing.

Petra Kvitova and Sara Errani will meet for the seventh time at approximately 2pm local time (4am BST.)