Svitolina cruises past Zeynep, top seed Sabalenka dominates in French Open
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka commenced her French Open campaign with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 victory over Kamilla Rakhimova on Sunday, May 25, signaling her intent for a deep run at Roland Garros. Joining her in the second round is No. 13 seed Elina Svitolina, who dispatched Turkish Zeynep Sonmez 6-1, 6-1, as both favorites progressed with impressive ease.
The opening day of the French Open women's singles saw a powerful statement from top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who swiftly advanced to the second round with a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win against Kamilla Rakhimova. Sabalenka, eyeing her first Roland Garros final, took just one hour to secure her victory, breaking Rakhimova five times and showcasing the form that makes her a strong contender this tournament. This marked her seventh consecutive second-round appearance at the clay-court Grand Slam. The Belarusian powerhouse is on a potential collision course with eighth seed Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals and a formidable semifinal clash with three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek, whose recent form has suggested a more open field this year.
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Zeynep fights but...
Joining Sabalenka with an equally decisive performance was Ukraine's Elina Svitolina. The No. 13 seed bypassed Zeynep Sonmez with a swift 6-1, 6-1 win, completing her match in just 72 minutes. Svitolina's efficiency was evident as she converted six break points and served two aces, leaving her opponent with little room to maneuver.
While the favorites showcased their prowess, the tournament also saw an early upset as Petra Kvitova exited in the first round after a three-set loss to Viktorija Golubic. Both Sabalenka and Svitolina will now prepare for their respective second-round matchups, with Sabalenka facing either Switzerland's Jil Teichmann or Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini, and Svitolina set to play the winner between Germany's Laura Siegemund and Hungary's Anna Bondar. Their strong starts solidify their positions among the players to watch as the Roland Garros action unfolds.
