Last Updated: Mon, 26 May 2008 14:39
Jelena Jankovic overcame a sluggish start to move into the second round of the French Open with victory over Monica Niculescu.
The third seed was expected to ease through her opening match at Roland Garros against the Romanian debutant but failed to find her rhythm in the early exchanges and required a tie-break to take the opening set.
However, she upped her level in the second set and eventually claimed a 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 success over the lucky loser.
Five of the first eight games of the match went against serve and Jankovic admitted that her opponent's tactics had thrown her in the early part of the match.
"I had a good start and then she played some great shots, some fine drop shots. I got confused," said the Serb. "I did not know what to expect and I lost my rhythm a bit."
Jankovic will now meet Italian Tathiana Garbin or Marina Erakovic.