(Berlin) France’s Caroline Garcia defeated local favorite Sabine Lisicki 7-6 (2), 6-3, while Czech Petra Kvitova also advanced to the first round at the Berlin Open on Monday.

Garcia, the third seed, had to work hard before finally taking control when she broke her rival’s serve at 4-3 in the second set. She saved all three break points she allowed to Lisicki, in addition to converting two of 13 chances.

Both players had 15 aces each.

“It’s funny because we trained in the same place and together and then we had to play each other in the first round. It’s often stories like that, Garcia said. But it was really complicated… It’s always a good battle and I’m happy that Sabine is playing again. »

Lisicki, 33, reached the final at Wimbledon in 2013. Injuries have derailed her career in recent years and she is currently No. 308 in the world.

For her part, Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion, defeated her compatriot Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-4. Croatian Donna Vekic defeated Russian Varvara Gracheva 6-3, 6-2.