Lucie Safarova faced off against Vitalia Diatchenko for the first time ever. As the favorite to win the match, Safarova would have been hoping to avoid an upset and pick up her first victory over her Russian opponent. Both players came into the match looking to advance into the second round of the Grand Slam tournament. After just under an hour, it was Safarova who had picked up the victory. The Czech player looked comfortable out on the court as she cruised past Diatchenko.

Safarova races through the first set

Diatchenko served first in the match and got off to the worst possible start. Safarova raced to a 40-0 lead in the game and capitalized on her first break point opportunity of the match to break her opponents serve and give herself an early lead in the set. Safarova then stepped up to the service line and last years French Open did not falter when it came to consolidating the break and doubling her lead in the set.

Things went from bad to worse for Diatchenko in the third game. The Russian had two chances to win her service game, however, she failed to take either. This allowed Safarova to work herself another break point chance, which she took on the first time of asking. With a 3-0 lead in the set, Safarova was looking confident out on the court, the world number thirteen comfortably backed up her break with a strong love hold.

There was nothing Diatchenko could do not halt Safarova's run of games. The Russian tried hard to stop Safarova, however, this was not enough. Safarova broke Diatchenko once again in the fifth game, to give herself a chance to serve for the set.

Safarova did not let the pressure of serving for the set get to her. The Czech player managed to prevent a late surge from Diatchenko to take the set, with her first set point opportunity. After around 22 minutes, Safarova put herself in a commanding position in the match, as she took the set 6-0.

Vitalia Diatchenko could do nothing to stop Safarova. Photo: Martin Bureau/Getty Images
Vitalia Diatchenko could do nothing to stop Safarova. Photo: Martin Bureau/Getty Images

Diatchenko battles but it isn't enough to stop Safarova

The second set started off in the same way as the first. Diatchenko looked nervous after failing to win any of her three previous service games and Safarova capitalized on this. Safarova broke Diatchenko on the first time of asking, to put herself a set and a break ahead.

After Safarova consolidated the break to win her eighth game in a row, Diatchenko finally got herself onto the scoreboard. Diatchenko fought off two break point opportunities before finding a way to hold her service and win her first game of the match. Diatchenko looked like a different player after winning the game, and she went on to add a second game to the board straight after. The Russian raced through Safarova's service game to take her first break point of the match and break her Czech opponent to love.

Safarova found her rhythm again in the fifth game. The world number thirteen went 40-0 ahead during Diatchenko's service game but could not take any of her three opportunities to break because of some strong play by Diatchenko. After a back and forth battle between the two players, Safarova eventually broke Diatchenko. The Czech utilized her fifth break point chance to take the game and put herself ahead in the set once again.

The world number thirteen consolidated the break with another strong love hold. Any momentum Diatchenko may have had was now gone, as Safarova put herself a double break ahead in the set. The Czech made the most of some poor play by Diatchenko and some well-placed shots, to break her opponent and put herself in a position to serve for the match.

Safarova stepped up to the service line, knowing that if she won the game she would win the match. The world number thirteen soon found herself with two match point chances, one of which Diatchenko managed to prevent her from taking. Safarova did not falter with her second chance though, and she took the game, set and match in just under an hour.

Safarova was impressive during the match. Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Safarova was impressive during the match. Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Safarova looked impressive during the match and after a string of injuries, it looks like she may nearly be back to the level which took her to the final in Roland Garros last year. By winning this match, she sets up a second round clash with Swiss player Viktorija Golubic.

Press Conference

After her victory today, Safarova faced the media who asked her a number of questions ranging from her confidence to wearing a matching outfit to her opponent. Below are a few quotes from Safarova's press conference.

The first question faced by Safarova was about how she felt to be back in Paris. The world number thirteen said that being back in Paris was exciting because there are "a lot of great memories from last year." Safarova also added that being "back here on-site, playing on the same courts, brings a lot of nice feelings."

VAVEL USA's Jake Best asked Safarova the following question "Knowing that you made the final last year, how has your mindset changed coming back here this year?." The Czech answered that after all her injury problems she is just happy to be back playing and at the French Open.  Safarova also said that "Each match I face, I will try to win and we will see."

Midway through the press conference Safarova was asked about her confidence, the world number thirteen said that her confidence is "pretty good" at the minute. She added that although she had a few setbacks in Madrid and Rome, she "feels good on clay" and that she'll take it "step by step."

The press conference then turned from tennis matches to tennis attire. One of the interviewers in the room asked Safarova if she had ever been on court with someone wearing the same outfit as her like she did today. Safarova responded, "she had a visor, I didn't." This prompted the person asking the question to ask whether it had happened in the past. Safarova said that although the players want to look a little different on court, "the Nike collection is same for more people, so it happens." The Czech continued to say that "with some players we talk, like, are you wearing that or this so we are not exactly the same."

The final question Safarova faced was based on Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova and whether players of their caliber are missed when they are not at tournaments like Roland Garros. Safarova answered "Well, obviously those are big players, big stars. Of course they are missed." The Czech also said that although two big named players are missing "there are these days many great players, and the tournament has still amazing quality."  Safarova ended by saying as much as they miss Federer and Sharapova she still thinks the tournament is pretty strong.

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