<p>Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on Monday fought back from a set down to beat Paraguayan Veronica Cepede Royg and reach the French Open second round.</p>

<p>The eighth seed struggled early but came through 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 to set up a meeting with Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena.</p>

<p>The 28-year-old Kvitova is one of the favourites to win a maiden Roland Garros title after winning four titles this season, including on clay in Prague and Madrid.</p>

<p>The Czech, who suffered career-threatening injuries on her playing left hand after being attacked in her home by a knife-wielding intruder in December 2016, arrived in Paris on the back of an 11-match winning streak.</p>

<p>However, Cepede Royg came close to snapping that run as she edged 5-4 and 0-15 ahead on Kvitova's serve in the third set.</p>

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<p>She was soon saluting the crowd with a raised clenched-fist as she broke in the next game before wrapping up a victory.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It was really tough, we played over two hours. I was more relaxed in the second but the third was tough again and I was lucky that I got the break," Kvitova said.<br />
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The eighth seed struggled early but came through 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 to set up a meeting with Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on Monday fought back from a set down to beat Paraguayan Veronica Cepede Royg and reach the French Open second round. The eighth seed struggled early but came through 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 to set up a meeting with Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena. The 28-year-old Kvitova is one of the favourites to win a maiden Roland Garros title after winning four titles this season, including on clay in Prague and Madrid. The Czech, who suffered career-threatening injuries on her playing left hand after being attacked in her home by a knife-wielding intruder in December 2016, arrived in Paris on the back of an 11-match winning streak. However, Cepede Royg came close to snapping that run as she edged 5-4 and 0-15 ahead on Kvitova's serve in the third set. × She was soon saluting the crowd with a raised clenched-fist as she broke in the next game before wrapping up a victory. "It was really tough, we played over two hours. I was more relaxed in the second but the third was tough again and I was lucky that I got the break," Kvitova said.

French Open: Petra Kvitova loses set but wins match to reach second round

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French Open: Petra Kvitova loses set but wins match to reach second round