The native of Louny, who occupies the position of number one overall at Roland-Garros, won for the first time this season without losing the set. In the next round, the world number one will face either Bernard Pera of the United States or Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania.

Plíšková, 30, received a wild card in Strasbourg for the disconnected Barbora Krejčíková. She was originally supposed to defend last year’s triumph but pulled out with an elbow injury.

The former world number one faced Kostya for the first time in her career and lost serve to the world’s 59th player early on. At 3:4, however, she redeemed her opponent’s break, then broke her serve again and won the first set with a ratio of 6:4.

At the start of the second set, Plíšková faced two breakballs, but she dodged them and, after two more broken serves, secured passage to the next round.

After previous defeats in Rome and Madrid, Plíšková claimed his third triumph this season. After December’s broken arm, she improved this year’s balance to 3:6. In the next round, the two-time Grand Slam finalist will seek her first quarter-final appearance since last year’s US Open. .

Strasbourg Women’s Tennis Tournament (clay, $251,750 grant):

Singles – Round 1: Karolina Pliskova (1-CZ) – Kostukova (UKR) 6:4, 6:2, Zanevska (Belg.) – Chang Shui (5-China) 6:2, 6:3, Berberovicova (Bosnia) – Stephens (6-USA) ) 2: 6, 6: 4, 6: 1, Dodinová (Fr.) – Konjuhová (Chor.) 6: 2, 1: 6, 7: 5, Watsonová (Brit.) – Hobgarská (Něm.) 6: 4 , 6: 1, Kerber (2-Germany) – Parry (Fr.) 6: 3, 6: 4, Mertens (4-Belg.) – Monnet (Fr.) 7: 5, 6: 4, Golubicova (9) – Switzerland) – Morderger (Germany) 6: 0, 6: 4, Juvanova (Slovenia) – Gluskova (ISR) 6: 3, 6: 1, Sasnovicova (BEL) – Gervaisova (Fr.) 6: 4, 6: 2 . Doubles – Round 1: Saville, Melicharova-Martinezova (Aust./USA) – Voracova, Lohoffova (CR/Nem.) 6:3, 6:1.