Camila Giorgi moved past 15^th seed Sara Errani in a blockbuster first-round match at the Mutua Madrid Open 2016, a clay court event, which kicked-off on Saturday.

The 50^th-ranked Giorgi needed one hour and 37 minutes to pull off a 7-5 7-5 conquest of the 20^th-ranked Errani in an All-Italian opening-round affair in the Spanish city here.

By the virtue of this win, Giorgi doubled up her head-to-head record against her countrywoman, having previously prevailed over her in Beijing four years ago.

Elsewhere, 12^th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine rallied from a set down to toil past Germany’s Yanina Wickmayer, winning 4-6 6-3 6-4 in an hour and 49 minutes.

Sloane Stephens, the 16^th-seeded American, was also made to struggle as she clinched a hard-fought 3-6 6-3 6-2 win over Brazilian journeywoman Teliana Pereira.