Halep wins challenging first round match at French Open

Paris, May 30 (IANS) Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, world No. 1, advanced to the second round of the French Open on Wednesday despite a spirited challenge from the United States' Alison Riske 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Halep, finalist in 2017, lost the first set in this year's debut on Parisian clay against the world No. 83, reports Efe.

However, the Romanian star came back strongly in the next two sets and broke through Riske's resistance, winning the match in one hour and 34 minutes.

In the second round, Halep is to face US player Taylor Townsend, who beat France's Myrtille Georges 6-4, 6-2 in the first round.

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