Monica Niculescu rallied to defeat Jelena Ostapenko 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 to reach the second round of the Coupe Rogers.
Ostapenko wins break-filled first to take the early lead
Right off the bat, Ostapenko had to save a break point and after that, she broke in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead. That was the first of five straight breaks, including the next game, one of the longest of the season, lasting 22 points, Niculescu taking it on her second chance. With neither player having a strong serve, more breaks indeed came and after the dust settled, Ostapenko emerged with a 5-3 lead. She was able to serve out the set to 30, the first hold in the set since the fourth game, taking it 6-3 and with it, a one-set lead.
Breaks continue as Niculescu rallies from the brink to level the match
Ostapenko appeared to build on her momentum, breaking in the opening game and then holding for a 2-0 lead. She further strengthened her grip on the match with a second break for a 3-0 lead, but Niculescu rallied, recovering her deficit to level the set at 3-3. Three more breaks in a row followed and the Romanian found herself back in a hole, Ostapenko serving for the match at 5-4. Niculescu broke again to square the set at 5-5 and then broke in the twelfth and final game of the set to take it 7-5 and level the match at one set apiece.
Niculescu runs away with the final set to advance
After blowing her chance to finish the match off, Ostapenko never recovered, dropping her serve in the second game to hand Niculescu a quick 2-0 lead. Now struggling just to win points, the Latvian again dumped serve, Niculescu now up 4-0. The outcome was now a foregone conclusion, but Ostapenko did hold in the sixth game, saving a match point to at least get on the board.
Serving for the match at 5-1, Niculescu was able to finish the set off with a love hold, taking it 6-1 and advancing to the second round. The Romanian lost just 12 points in the final and won nine of the final ten games of the match dating back to the end of the second set. She'll face fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska. Radwanska received a bye into the second round.
