Former champion Garbine Muguruza has cantered past Swede Johanna Larsson 6-4 6-1 in the French Open second round.
Last year’s runner-up Sloane Stevens and second seed Karolina Pliskova also posted straight sets wins to advance to round three on Wednesday at the Roland Garros.
Muguruza, seeded 19th, was kept on her toes in the opening set before motoring on in the second on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
The Spaniard, who claimed French Open title 2016, relied on her booming forehand throughout and wrapped it up when Larsson netted a service return.
“I tried to build points a bit more instead of hitting very hard and trying to get a winner,” the 25-year-old, who also won Wimbledon in 2017, told reporters.
“And then I had to adapt my game to the clay, because you have to adapt. You have to build your points a bit more. I also used more topspin, and I tried to be more patient.”
Muguruza now runs into ninth seed Elina Svitolina who advanced by walkover when fellow Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova withdrew with “a viral infection”, according to a updated tournament statement after rib problems were at first given as the reason.
Seventh-seeded Stephens prevailed over Spanish world No.76 Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-1 7-6 (7-3), wasting a 3-0 lead in the second set but then denying her opponent from twice serving out the set at 5-4 and 6-5.
The former US Open champion feels “good” after bringing in the experienced Sven Groeneveld as her new coach and also becoming engaged to US football striker Jozy Altidore.
“I feel like I’m in a good head space. I’m playing better. I’m seeing the court well, which I think is really important for me. My movement is good. Everything is just kind of falling into place, and that’s kind of what you want,” Stephens said.
Pliskova, a 2017 semi-finalist in Paris and the recent Italian Open winner, wasted no time dispatching Slovakia’s Kristina Kucova, winning 6-2 6-2 in just 56 minutes.
The hard-hitting Czech’s victory was punctuated by eight aces and 29 winners.
World No.20 Elise Mertens was also at her clinical best as she thumped France’s 16-year-old wildcard Diane Parry 6-1 6-3.
