JABAR EKSPRES – Defending champion Iga Swiatek overcame an early challenge to reach the second round of the French Open on Tuesday with a straight sets victory over Spain’s, Cristina Bucsa.

The world number one, seeking to become the first woman to successfully defend a title at Roland Garros since Justine Henin in 2007, won 6-4, 6-0.

“I know this court quite well and I’m focused on the future,” said Swiatek, who could lose the top ranking to Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina at Roland Garros, as broadcast by AFP, Wednesday (5/31).

Swiatek, champion in Paris in 2020, lost only one game to Bucsa when the two met at the Australian Open in January.

She struggled to find her rhythm in the opening round in Paris in a first set that featured five breaks of serve.

However, once the opening set was closed, the 21-year-old put away Bucsa, ranked 70th in the world, in the second set which lasted 22 minutes.

Next up, Swiatek will face either Switzerland’s Ylena In-Albon or USA’s Claire Liu.

Meanwhile, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina shrugged off a slow start to beat Czech teenager Brenda Fruhvirtova in two straight sets to book a place in the second round of the French Open.

The world number four from Kazakhstan, who is among the top three favorites for the French Open title along with Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, beat the talented 16-year-old Fruhvirtova 6-4, 6-2.

“Didn’t start well, took a while to figure out how to play this… But I’m very happy,” Rybakina said.

She will next face another Czech teenager, Linda Noskova.