Maria Sakkari survives marathon opener in Beijing

(Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Maria Sakkari outlasted Ashlyn Krueger to win their first-round match 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-5 in three hours and 29 minutes Wednesday at the China Open in Beijing.

It was the third-longest match this season on the WTA Tour and a rollercoaster for Greece's Sakkari, who nearly blew a 5-2 lead in the first set, squandered a 5-4 edge in the second set and then overcame a 4