Roland Garros Women’s Day 3

Rome and Madrid finalist Aryna Sabalenka wasted little time in dispatching her opening opponent on a rain-hit Tuesday at Roland Garros, with the second seed rolling over Erika Andreeva 6-1, 6-2.

The double Australian Open champion who reached the Paris semi-finals a year ago blew through the opening set against her 10th-ranked teenaged opponent in 33 minutes and finished off victory.

Sabalenka stands 12-3 this season on clay after losing finals to Iga Swiatek in  Madrid and Rome plus going down to Marketa Vondrousova in the Stuttgart quarters.

The seed needed three match points to go through, profitting with a drop shot after 68 minutes.

Despite earning just two of her 14 career trophies on clay, Sabalenka believes she has the game to shine in Paris.

“I’m trying to do well on clay, there were tough conditions but I’m trying to enjoy it.

“I try to bring my best tennis every time no matter the surface.

“Erika is a smart player and puts a lot of balls back. I tried to bring a different game and make her think about things.”

Sabaenka advanced with 27 winners while breaking on five of her six ances..

Former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina returned to tennis after pulling out ill from Rome, with the fourth seed advancing to the second round.

The Kazakh had not hit a ball in anger for a month since a semi-final loss in Madrid to Aryna Sabalenka.

Rybakina left it late in Rome but withdrew prior to her opening match citing stomach illness.

She made a solid start on a day of rain under the closed roof of the Lenglen showcourt, defeating Belgian Greet Minnen 6-2 6-3, winning 10 games in a row along the way.

The Kazakh trailed 2-0 at the start, but recovered in style as she started her mid-match win streak, wrapping up with 36 winners.

Rybakina earned a 4-0 lead in the second and completed the victory in 74 minutes; she was broken as she served for the match but corrected the error two games later to advance.

Rybakina could well threaten in Paris as the only player this season to defeat world No. 1 Iga Swiatek on clay (April Stuttgart semis).

“It is tiring sometimes, but I’m happy to be back and just to keep on
playing,” she said of her enforced pause this month.

“Then the goal is for me to win the titles. That’s what I want, that’s what I’m aiming for.

” I played really well today. I feel quite confident.”

Play on outside courts finally began five hours after the scheduled morning start as the weather cleared slightly; 10th seed Daria Kasatkina took advantage to defeat  Magdalena Frech 7-5, 6-1. 

Croat Petra Martic dished out a defeat for France with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Kristina Mladenovic.

Three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber continued her poor showings in Paris, losing in the first round for the ninth time here as she was eliminated 6-4, 6-3 by Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands.