The second-best female tennis player in the world, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, defeated a Russian teenager Erica Andreeva on Tuesday 7-6(3), 6-4 to advance to the second round of the French Open.
The match was played under inclement weather as the closed roof of Court Philippe Chatrier covered it.
Sabalenka won this year’s Australian Open and reached semi-finals at Roland Garros In 2023 she displayed her power and precision through-out the tournament that saw her crush a teenage ela in just about an hour with both sets ending 6-1, 6-2.
Sabalenka had hit 27 winners en route to beating Andreeva who is ranked 100th and broke serve five times during the dominant display thereby setting up a clash against either Irene Brillo Es. Corihuela of Spain or Japan’s inner island Moyuca.
In six previous grand slams, Sabalenka has made it to at least the last four and is poised to be Poland’s most formidable foe for Swiatek as she targets a fourth French Open title.
Swiatek beat Sabalenka in both Madrid and Rome Grand Slam finals.