25 May,2009 08:40 AM IST | | PA Sport
Ana Ivanovic played down fears over the state of her right knee after launching the defence of her French Open crown with an unconvincing straight-sets win against Italy's Sara Errani yesterday.
The Serbian's build-up to Roland Garros has been hampered by the injury she sustained in Rome earlier this month and she played today on Philippe Chatrier court with partial strapping on the front of her knee.
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Ana Ivanovic struggled to a 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory |
The 21-year-old, the eighth seed this year, posted a 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory over an opponent currently 44th in the world but she struggled to find her best form, especially in the first set.
Ivanovic was nonetheless delighted to have been given a good work-out and insisted her recent knee problems did not affect her.
"I just put it out of my mind and I don't want to think about it," said the defending champion, who was forced to withdraw from a recent tournament in Madrid because of the injury.
"Obviously I'm going to feel it here and there there is still a bit of residue, a feeling of discomfort. But it's nothing that can stop me from doing what I have to do on court."
She added: "I expected a tough match and I worked hard for the points. I kept my composure even when I was making mistakes. I think this match is going to be a good test for me."
Other first round results
Men
Andrey Golubev bt Denis Gremelmayr 6-3, 6-3, 6-2
Mathieu Montcourtu00a0 bt Lu Yen-Hsun 6-2, retd
Dudi Selau00a0 bt Jean-Rene Lisnard 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Nicolas Almagro bt Agustin Calleri 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
Josselin Ouanna bt Marcel Granollers 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1
Philipp Petzschner bt Peter Polansky 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3
David Ferrer bt Frederico Gil 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
Radek Stepanek bt Gaston Gaudio 6-3, 6-4, 6-1
Robert Kendrick bt Daniel Brands 6-7 (7), 7-5, 7-6 (11), 4-6, 6-3
Ernests Gulbis bt Sam Querrey 7-6 (1), 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
Women
Li Na bt Marta Domachowska 6-4, 6-2
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova bt Ioana Raluca Olaru 6-3, 6-2
Timea Bacsinszky bt Emilie Loit 4-6, 6-4, 6-1
Julie Coin bt Nuria Llagostera Vives 7-5, 6-2
Vitalia Diatchenko bt Mathilde Johansson 2-6, 6-2, 10-8
Iveta Benesova bt Julia Goerges 7-5, 4-1 - retired
Elena Vesnina bt Severine Bremond 6-3, 6-3
Nadia Petrova bt Lauren Embree 6-1, 6-2
Arantxa Rus bt Olivia Sanchez 6-1, 6-1
Yaroslava Shvedova bt Kaia Kanepi 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-2
