LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg - No.5 seed Viktoria Kuzmova overcame a determined effort from American teenager Katie Volynets to advance to the second round of the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open.

From a set down, Kuzmova battled back to ultimately score a 6-7(4), 7-6(1), 6-1 victory in over two-and-a-half hours. 

After leading by an early break in the first set, Kuzmova found herself a set behind against the wildcard ranked World No.389 playing in just the second tour-level main draw of her young career. 

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Both of the 17-year-old's WTA main draw appearances this season have come via a wildcard, as she was awarded one for the US Open by virtue of winning the USTA Girls' 18s National Championships, and gave eventual champion Bianca Andreescu a stern test in the first round in her Grand Slam debut. 


The dogged defenses of the American teenager proved difficult for the Slovak to master in the opening set, as she tallied 17 winners and 17 unforced errors as the aggressor, with Volynets recording four of each. 

The California native also battled back from a 5-2 deficit in the second set, saving three set points to put herself on the cusp of victory as the two players advanced into a tiebreak.

However, the World No.52 rounded into form with her back against the wall, as she won six straight points to force a decider, and cruised in the final set to ultimately stave off Volynets in her upset bid. 

Kuzmova lost just 10 points in the final set overall, losing just four points in three service games, to seal the victory in two hours and 33 minutes.  

More to come...