French player Pauline Parmentier secured her spot in the second round at the Open BLS in Limoges with a 6-2 6-2 win over her compatriot Caroline Garcia after 87 minutes in an all-French clash.
Parmentier went up a double break to open up a 4-0 lead in the opening set after long games which went to deuce. Garcia won only five points on Parmentier’s serve.
Parmentier broke twice in Garcia’s first two service games of the second set. Garcia pulled one break back, but Parmentier won three consecutive games to seal the second set 6-2.
Ekaterina Alexandrova edged past Monica Niculescu 6-4 2-6 6-3. Alexandrova broke twice in the final three games to win the opening set 6-4. Niculescu broke twice in a row in the third and fifth games to win the second set 6-2. Alexandrova saved nine break points in the third set including six in the first game and broke once in the eighth game to seal the third set 6-3.