Agnieszka Radwanska has lived up to her nickname as the ‘Professor’ when she dug deep into her toolbox of tactics to repel tenacious qualifier Alison Van Uytvanck in the French Open second round on Thursday.

Radwanska, the world No.10, was taken by surprise in the first set by the aggressive Belgian, ranked 103 spots below her, but changed tactics and decided to mix it up to race through the second set before she prevailed 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-3 in two hours and 23 minutes.

Local hope Alize Cornet upset the 20th-seeded Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-4 6-1 to set up a meeting with Radwanska in round three.

The fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina had to claw her way back from a set down to beat former quarter-finalist Tsvetana Pironkova 3-6 6-3 6-2.

Next up for Ukranian Svitolina in the third round is Magda Linette after the Pole eliminated Ana Konjuh, the 29th seed, 6-0 7-5.

The 26th-seeded Daria Kasatkina defeated Marketa Vondrousova 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 in a battle of the next-generation Czech youngsters.

Kasatkina, 20, reached the third round at Roland Garros for the second consecutive year.