The 24-year-old Israeli, ranked No. 98 in the world, entered the French Open without a single WTA Tour main draw victory in 2014.
By ALLON SINAIJulia Glushko toughed out a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Donna Vekic in the first round of Roland Garros yesterday.(photo credit: NIR KEIDAR/ISRAEL TENNIS ASSOCIATION)
Julia Glushko advanced to the second round of Roland Garros for the first time in her career on Tuesday, upsetting Donna Vekic in Paris to progress past the opening round of a Grand Slam tournament for just the second time.The 24-year-old Israeli, ranked No. 98 in the world, entered the French Open without a single WTA Tour main draw victory in 2014. However, she battled Vekic (67) for two hours and 20 minutes before clinching a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 win on Court 17 to remain the only surviving Israeli in the singles tournaments in Paris after Shahar Pe’er and Dudi Sela were both knocked out in the first round on Monday.Glushko will have to be at her very best to continue and advance in the French capital, with her next opponent being world No. 22, Kirsten Flipkens.The Belgian beat Danka Kovinic 7-6, 6-2 on Tuesday.Glushko clinched the first set with a crucial break in the 12th game, only for the Croatian to race into a quick 3-0 lead in the second set and remain in control until she leveled the match.Vekic, who had 66 unforced errors in the match to Glushko’s 42, registered the first break of the third set to move into a 2-1 advantage. But Glushko broke right back before losing her serve in what looked like a pivotal seventh game.However, the Israeli once more tied the score in the subsequent game and held her nerve the better of the two players to secure the win.
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