MOSCOW, Russia - No.8 seed Anett Kontaveit rallied from a set down - and a break down in the final set - to make a winning start to her campagin at the VTB Kremlin Cup on Monday.
The in-form Estonian was given all she could handle by teenaged Russian wildcard Anastasia Potapova, but ultimately triumphed in two hours and 17 minutes, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Anett Kontaveit completes the comeback win at @TennisRussia!
Seals victory over Potapova 2-6, 6-3, 7-5! pic.twitter.com/uOGuilvs4t— WTA (@WTA) October 15, 2018
A dominant opener by the World No.94 Potapova saw her run off six straight games after facing an early 2-0 deficit, as she never faced a break point after dropping serve to begin the match.
However, the World No.21 rounded into form in a tightly-contested second set, as she lost an early break lead but won the last three games to send the opening round contest to a decider.
In the final set, the teenager and Moscow River Cup and Tashkent Open runner-up led 2-0 in the early going, but was ultimately outlasted by her experienced foe in a set which took over an hour to complete.
More to come...