Garcia and Cornet secure contrasting victories in Lyon
Alize Cornet cruised into the second round of the Lyon Open, but Caroline Garcia made hard work of avoiding an early exit.
Caroline Garcia during Lyon’s tournament
Caroline Garcia produced a final-set fightback to beat Greet Minnen and join compatriot Alize Cornet in the second round of the inaugural Lyon Open on Monday.
What a battle between these two!
But it’s Lyon resident @CaroGarcia who wins through against Minnen, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5)!#Open6emeSensML pic.twitter.com/6oO6ajeDMa
— WTA (@WTA) March 2, 2020
Garcia has made a poor start to the season and was in danger of falling at the first hurdle in the city where she resides, but fought back to win 6-4 1-6 7-6 (7-5). The third seed trailed Belgian outsider Minnen 4-2 in the deciding set before pulling herself off the ropes to book a meeting with Ysaline Bonaventure.
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Listen to the Lyon crowd as @CaroGarcia gets the break of serve!#Open6emeSensML pic.twitter.com/oTCKiDSLuD
— WTA (@WTA) March 2, 2020
Cornet’s passage into the second round proved to be much more straightforward, defeating 162-ranked German Antonia Lottner 7-5 6-0. The fourth seed grasped six of eight break-point opportunities and served a dozen aces to sail through.
A fabulous second set from @Alizecornet!
Beats Lottner 7-5, 6-0!#Open6emeSensML pic.twitter.com/z9wJNoVfGD
— WTA (@WTA) March 2, 2020
Alison Van Uytvanck, the fifth seed, needed just an hour to defeat Katarzyna Kawa 6-1 6-3, while Anna-Lena Friedsam and Irina Bara also advanced. Jaqueline Cristian could face Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin after losing just two games in a thrashing of Priscilla Hon.
