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World number 95 Sara Errani made a winning start in Charleston, defeating Eugenie Bouchard 6-4 6-4 in an hour and 30 minutes for the place in the second round. This was their third meeting and the first since Indian Wells 2014, with Bouchard not playing that bad but losing too many points on her serve and suffering four breaks of serve from seven opportunities she gave to the Italian.
Errani controlled the points nicely, finishing the match with more winners than errors and keeping her second serve safe to save three out of five break points and prevail in straight sets. Sara drew first blood in the opening game of the match but Bouchard got the break back in game four to level the score at 2-2.
We saw some good tennis on both sides by the end of the set and there was only one additional break point, Errani seized it in game seven to move 4-3 ahead and to close the opener with a solid hold in game 10 for a 6-4. Just like in the opening set, the more experienced player found the way to score an early break in set number two to create a 3-1 gap but Eugenie bounced back with a break of her own in game six, leveling the score at 3-3 to increase her chances.
She saved a break point in game seven but couldn't do the same at 4-4, getting broken at 15 and allowing Errani to serve for the win. The Italian saved the best serves for the end, holding at love in game 10 to seal the deal and advance into the second round.
The top seed Caroline Garcia is the first player who earned the place in the third round after a routine 6-2 6-3 victory over Varvara Lepchenko in an hour and 16 minutes. This was the fourth win for the Franch girl over the American in five matches and she delivered it with a rock solid display in her games, dropping 14 points in nine games and losing serve once from three chances she offered to Lepchenko.
On the other hand, the American had to work hard for every point behind her serve, playing against eight break chances and suffering four breaks to hit the exit door after the opening round. Caroline was off to a flying start, winning 12 of the opening 13 points to open a 3-0 gap and set the tone for the rest of the match.
She moved closer to the finish line in the opening set with another break in game six but Varvara managed to prolong the set with her lone break in game seven while Garcia served for it. The American squandered multiple game points in the following game and Caroline clinched the set 6-2 with her third break of serve.
The second set was more fluid and Lepchenko raised her level to stay in touch with her rival in the first six games after fending off a break point in game four. Garcia held at 15 at 3-3 to move in front once again and this time she confirmed it with a break in the next game that sent her 5-3 ahead, allowing her to serve for the triumph in the game that followed.
After saving two break points it all finished up nicely for her, converting the second match point to reach the third round. Tuesday's results: