French Open 2011: Injured Sabine Lisicki Almost Upsets Vera Zvonareva

Lauren LynchMay 26, 2011

We had a quiet day as far as upsets are concerned for the singles ladies at the French Open on Wednesday. All the top seeds remained intact and moved to the third round.

Seeded third Vera Zvonareva rounded out the day with a not-so-easy win against world No. 121 Sabine Lisicki of Germany 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. Unfortunately, Lisicki had to take a medical evaluation up 5-4 in the third set for what appeared to be leg cramps. Kudos to Lisicki, who was fighting back tears and suffered through pain until the end of the match! She was immediately taken off the court on a stretcher.

Vera appeared to be struggling with her return of serve. She will play Nadia Petrova's first-round upsetter, Anastasia Rodionova, in the third round. The Australian world No. 74 defeated Edina Gallovits-Hall 6-1, 6-4.

Earlier in the day, 13th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova took only 47 minutes to beat Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 6-1, 6-1. The two-time major titlist Kuznetsova may have hired former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina to come to Paris to help coach her, according to Tennis.com.

Former No. 1 and 10th seed Jelena Jankovic shot 19 winners to take out Russian Vera Dushevina 6-3, 6-2 to face American Bethanie Mattek-Sands next.

After Alize Cornet fell to Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-0, 6-2, France's hopes relied on 11th seed Marion Bartoli. Bartoli won in a tough three-set match against Olga Govortsova, who is ranked 123rd in the world and hit more winners than the victor, 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-2.

The No. 1 French player's game suffered with eight double faults, and she was only able to convert seven of 17 break point opportunities. Bartoli faces Julia Goerges next.

Defending champion Francesca Schiavone prevailed 6-1, 6-2 against Russian Vesna Dolonts in an hour and two minutes. Schiavone was effective at the net and won eight of 10 net approaches. In the third round, she will meet Shuai Peng, who beat Polona Hercog 7-5, 6-1.