29 May 2012

Azarenka survives first round match at Roland Garros

6:08 am on 29 May 2012

The Belarussian world number one Victoria Azarenka battled back from a set and 4-love down to beat Italy's Alberta Brianti and avoid becoming the first top seed in history to be knocked out in the French Open first round.

Azarenka won 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 but she flirted with disaster for much of her 2 and a quarter hour battle on Philippe Chatrier Court.

She admits she was lucky and it was a bad day, but she got through it and that's the main thing.

There was also a win for Chinese defending champion Li Na, while number 12 Sabine Lisicki of Germany was the highest seed to fall.

The New Zealander Marina Erakovic plays her first round match tonight against Lourdes Dominges-Lino of Spain.