Angelique Kerber battles past Kristyna Pliskova

Updated 28/06/2017 at 13:58 GMT

World number one Angelique Kerber was pushed hard by Kristyna Pliskova at Eastbourne on Wednesday but she eventually won 4-6 6-1 6-4 to progress to the third round.

Angelique Kerber plays a shot against Kristina Pliskova during their women's singles round two tennis match at the ATP Aegon International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 28, 2017.

Image credit: Getty Images

With both players serving out in the opening eight games of the first set Pliskova found the break through when she broke Kerber, reading the German's forehand to return excellently.

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However Kerber responded well in the second, taking the set 6-1 as Pliskova struggled after being stung on her left arm by a bee.

In the final set both players once again served out but in the 10th game Pliskova missed a simple forehand to take the lead in Kerber's service game.

Kerber held out and then broke before serving out for the match as Pliskova fell apart right at the end.

Women's Round-up

Elsewhere world number two Simona Halep made it through to the third round as she came from behind to beat Duan Ying-Ying 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Halep, who is seeded second for Wimbledon behind Kerber struggled in the first set but calmed down in the second.

She was in control after winning the second and put in a good performance in her first grass court match of the season after receiving a bye in the first round.

Of course the world number one ranking is on the line depending on which of the two do better during this tournament ahead of Wimbledon.

Seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Mona Barthel also coming from behind to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Tsvetana Pironkova will face Halep in the next round after beating Monica Niculescu 6-0, 6-4.

Kristina Mladenovic was in good form as she defeated Zhang Shuai 6-0, 6-4.

Women's results in full

Round 2

1-Angelique Kerber (Germany) beat Kristyna Pliskova (Czech Republic) 4-6 6-1 7-5

7-Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Mona Barthel (Germany) 4-6 7-5 6-2

2-Simona Halep (Romania) beat Duan Yingying (China) 3-6 6-3 6-2

9-Kristina Mladenovic (France) beat Zhang Shuai (China) 6-0 6-4

Tsvetana Pironkova (Bulgaria) beat Monica Niculescu (Romania) 6-0 6-4

12-Elena Vesnina (Russia) beat Veronica Cepede Royg (Paraguay) 6-3 6-3

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