Kerber makes strong start at WTA Eastbourne

The Frenchwoman led by a set and a break before play was stopped on Monday, but Svitolina quickly broke back to level at 3-3 in the second and then saved a match point to break again and take the contest to a tie-break.

Cornet, however, bounced back to race through the tie-break 7-3.

Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko also rallied from losing the first set 6-1 to world No. 9 Sloane Stephens to take the next two sets 6-0, 6-3.