Wimbledon 2019: Simona Halep battles into third round with win over Mihaela Buzarnescu

World number seven Simona Halep in action at Wimbledon. Photo credit: Reuters

World number seven Simona Halep survived a scare to reach the third round at Wimbledon, while world number three Karolina Pliskova claimed a commanding straight-sets win Puerto Rico's Monica Puig.

Halep endured a tough second-round test against compatriot Buzarnescu before eventually winning 6-3 4-6 6-2 in one hour and 51 minutes.   

Halep had a 2-0 lead in each of the three sets where the pair accumulated a total of 23 breaks of serve.    

The match was stopped with Buzarnescu leading 4-2 in the second set due to an ill spectator, and even though Halep broke back to level at 4-4, Buzarnescu earned a break to serve out the set and even the scores.   

In the final set, Halep, who won her first grand slam at the 2018 French Open, collected a 3-0 lead and escaped into the third round with a backhand winner.

Halep will face fellow former world number one Victoria Azarenka in the next round after the Belarusian overcame Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2 6-0.   

Meanwhile Czech star Pliskova dominated the match, coming out on top 6-0 6-4. She ran through six straight games to claim the first set in 20 minutes.   

Puig lost a seventh consecutive game before holding serve, but a fourth break gave a 3-1 lead to Pliskova.   

Pliskova's serve was broken back, but she sealed the contest from 5-4 on her first match point to dismiss Puig in one hour on Centre Court.   

"I felt the best here in Wimbledon today," said Pliskova.   

"I feel like I improved from the first round. I was a little bit nervous. Hopefully, it can be better again in the third one."   

Also in the women's draw, Estonia's Anett Kontaveit beat Britain's Heather Watson 7-5 6-1 for a third-round meeting with Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, who conquered Madison Brengle of the United States 6-3 6-4.   

Ukrainian eighth seed Elina Svitolina had a fortunate escape in round two against Russian Margarita Gasparyan.   

Svitolina was a set and a breakdown, but Gasparyan picked up an untimely injury and was forced to retire at 5-7 6-5 with Svitolina ahead in set two.   

The 24-year-old WTA Finals champion next meets Greece's Maria Sakkari, who triumphed 6-4 6-1 against the Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova to progress.   

Reuters

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