Australian Open winner Aryna Sabalenka, a 2023 semifinalist, defeated Russian teenager Erika Andreeva 6-1, 6-2 in just 68 minutes under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier, as severe rain prompted a five-hour delay on the grounds to begin her quest for the Roland Garros title.

In a strong performance, world number two Sabalenka hit 27 winners and broke serve five times against the 100th-ranked Andreeva.

The Belarussian has reached the final four of her last six Grand Slams and is likely to be Iga Swiatek’s most formidable opponent in the Pole’s campaign for a fourth French Open victory.

Read Also:Roland Garros: Djokovic Defeat Herbert In Straight-Set

Andreeva’s younger sister Mirra fared better, reaching the fourth round as a 16-year-old in 2023.

She defeated Emina Bektas of the United States in straight sets.

Casper Ruud, the two-time runner-up who won clay-court titles in Barcelona and Geneva leading up to Roland Garros, defeated Brazilian qualifier Felipe Meligeni Alves 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.

Ruud was defeated in straight sets by Djokovic in last year’s final, after a one-sided loss to Nadal in the 2022 final.

He also lost in the 2022 US Open final to Carlos Alcaraz.

Alize Cornet’s career came to an end in straight sets against Zheng Qinwen in her record-breaking 69th Grand Slam appearance.

Cornet was no match for China’s Australian Open runner-up Zheng, who defeated her 6-2, 6-1.

She made her Roland Garros debut at the age of 15 in 2005 and has not missed a Grand Slam tournament since the US Open in 2006.

Cornet peaked at 11th in 2009 and made an unexpected run to the quarterfinals of the 2022 Australian Open.

Former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina advanced to the second round on Court Suzanne Lenglen after defeating Belgian Greet Minnen 6-2, 6-3.

Rybakina, the Kazakh world number four, is the only player to have defeated Swiatek on clay this season, in the Stuttgart semifinals in April.

There was no celebration for Argentine qualifier Roman Andres Burruchaga, who carries sporting achievement in his blood.

His father, Jorge, famously scored the winning goal for Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the 1986 World Cup final against West Germany.

The 22-year-old, ranked 144, lost in three sets to Germany’s seasoned Jan-Lennard Struff.