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Kerber, who arrived in Paris after an ankle injury, showed signs of nervousness early in the tournament, but played his best tennis throughout the first set against adversity. Twice she ended up with a breakdown, but twice she responded immediately.
By the time Potapova broke for the third time, however, it was too late for the German to respond while the board was moving away. Indeed, the match that the teenager played to move forward was her most amazing match, while she resisted 40-0 delivery of her rival to face a succession of heavy blows that his more experienced opponent could not answer.
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His count of 13 winners at only 12 non-forced mistakes told the story of his set, while Kerber, who served 71% of his first services, only gathered eight winners against 11 non-forced mistakes.
There was more of the same in Potapova's second as his level remained incredibly high. With her confidence, she wisely used the attack to complete the formidable power that continued to force the WTA World No.5 on the back foot.
On two occasions, Kerber saw her lose her service and, even if she threatened to take a break, fortune favored her rival with a big net allowing Potapova to hold when her level temporarily wavered.
Although the German rallied to a certain extent, rightly getting one of the backs, Potapova showed no sign of nervousness and, after winning three points, the last of these when Kerber pulled wide , sealing the biggest victory of his second-round clash with Wang Yafan or Marketa Vondrousova.
And in a warning to future opponents, she says she now has the taste of the big stage, although she does not intend to become the next Jelena Ostapenko, who won the debut in 2017.
"I live for that victory, for those emotions and moments," she said. "I will do everything to live it again and again.
"I do not want to think about the future. I want to think about every point, every game. And the only thing I can think about now is my next turn. It's the second round. And what will happen, nice. If I win, it's perfect. But I want to stay focused on myself, on my health and just stay with a clear mind. "
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