French Fire: Ferro and Rajaonah Light Up Rouen
Fiona Ferro made an electric start to her Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole campaign on Monday, outlasting No. 4 seed McCartney Kessler 6-7(8), 6-2, 7-5 in a match that pushed the three-hour mark.
After narrowly dropping a grueling first-set tiebreak, Ferro turned up the heat. She hammered five aces, saved 8 of 12 break points, and broke Kessler’s serve seven times on 13 chances. It was a gritty, confidence-boosting win for the hometown favorite.
Meet Tiantsoa Rajaonah: France’s Teenage Upset Star
In her WTA debut, 19-year-old Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah played like a seasoned pro. She dominated seventh seed Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-3, winning all nine of her service games and 76% of her first-serve points.
It was a breakout performance that could put Rajaonah on the radar as one of France’s next rising tennis stars. With her poise and precision, she’s definitely one to watch this week in Rouen.
Kalinina, Ruse Also Advance
Elsewhere in Rouen:
- Anhelina Kalinina rolled past Nao Hibino 6-0, 6-4 in just 77 minutes.
- Elena-Gabriela Ruse rebounded from a poor start to defeat Elsa Jacquemot 1-6, 6-1, 6-4.
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Stuttgart Action: Shnaider, Potapova Pull Through
In Stuttgart, the first round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix brought early fireworks. Diana Shnaider, seeded No. 8, came back from a set down to take out fellow Russian Veronika Kudermetova 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.
Shnaider was clinical when it mattered most, saving 3 of 5 break points and converting 4 of 5 break opportunities. The win showcases her increasing maturity and confidence on tour.
Potapova’s Comeback of the Day
Anastasia Potapova delivered the day’s comeback performance. She saved a match point in a tense second-set tiebreak before storming back to beat Clara Tauson 2-6, 7-6(8), 6-3.
Potapova’s fight and patience paid off as she took over the third set with smart shot selection and timely aggression.
Mertens Moves On Smoothly
Elise Mertens rounded out the day with a solid 7-6(3), 6-2 win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich, showing why she’s still a consistent force on tour.
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