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Pennetta survives 4 match points to advance in Dubai

Associated Press
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Italy's Flavia Pennetta returns the ball to Germany's Julia Goerges during the first day of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) (The Associated Press)

Germany's Julia Goerges returns the ball to Italy's Flavia Pennetta during the first day of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) (The Associated Press)

Wildcard Flavia Pennetta of Italy survived four match points in the second set before pulling off a 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4 first round win over lucky loser Julia Goerges of Germany in the Dubai Tennis Championships on Sunday.

"I was almost crying on the court today because I was feeling so bad," Pennetta said.

The 10th-seeded Pennetta trailed 5-2 in the second set at Dubai Tennis Stadium but held serve and went on to close out the set with an ace in the tiebreaker.

Pennetta led 4-1 in the decider before Goerges briefly rallied.