PARIS (Reuters) -World number one Aryna Sabalenka started off on the wrong foot before trampling Swiss Jil Teichmann into the French Open dirt with a 6-3 6-1 win that propelled her into the Roland Garros third round on Wednesday.
Sabalenka began her bid for a maiden Paris crown by dropping only one game against Kamilla Rakhimova in the opening round but the 27-year-old from Belarus faced far more resistance against Teichmann, who grabbed an early break to pile on the pressure.
The tricky left-hander troubled Sabalenka throughout the early part of the opening set but the top seed composed herself and pulled level at 3-3, before breaking her unseeded opponent again in the eighth game and then taking control of the match.
"She started really well and played her best game. It's always tricky against her," said Sabalenka.
"Her variety is crazy... I was trying to find the rhythm and I'm glad I held my serve from 3-1 down. I got more energy. It was a tough match, she made me work for every point and I'm very happy for this win."
After going up a set, Sabalenka struck a stinging backhand winner to grab another break in the opening game of the second set and there was no doubt she would continue her imperious march through the French Open draw after she went 4-0 up.
She delivered the final blow in the form of a break in the seventh game, finishing when Teichmann sent a shot long, to set up a meeting with another left-hander in Olga Danilovic who downed Danielle Collins 6-4 3-6 6-4.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Paris; editing by Clare Fallon)
