Tennis-Svitolina huffs and puffs into French Open round two

(Corrects score of super tiebreak in first paragraph to 10-3, not 10-8)

By Julien Pretot

PARIS, May 25 (Reuters) – Elina Svitolina survived a major scare to reach the second round of the French Open, having to come from behind to labour past unheralded Anna Bondar 3-6 6-1 7-6 (10-3) on Monday.

A month after she was knocked out of the Madrid Open in straight sets by the Hungarian, Ukrainian seventh seed Svitolina could not find her range on the Suzanne Lenglen Court, falling apart in the opening set after cancelling out an early break.

Svitolina, however, bounced back in the second but it was not as easy as the 6-1 scoreline suggested.

The 31-year-old fell 3-1 behind in the decider but clawed her way back and broke decisively for 4-3.

Serving for the match at 5-4, she was broken to love, losing eight points in a row to find herself trailing 6-5.

She held serve to force a super tiebreak, during which her opponent eventually unravelled.

“Definitely the support of you guys has been unbelievable, this kind of battle is never easy. It was an amazing match, I’m pleased with my performance,” said Rome champion Svitolina, who has now played four consecutive three-set matches.

“A first round like this puts you right on track. Mental strength took me over the line, as well as my physical condition.”

Svitolina is expected to sit in the Philippe Chatrier Court stands later on Monday when her husband, Gael Monfils, starts his final French Open campaign against fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston.

“I will tell him to enjoy it. He always brings the best show,” she said.

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Aidan Lewis)