World number one Aryna Sabalenka dropped only one game as she beat Kamilla Rakhimova to get her French Open campaign under way in emphatic style.
Sabalenka needed just one hour to beat Russian Rakhimova 6-1 6-0 in Paris.
The Belarusian ramped up her performance as the match went on, winning nine games in a row to close out the match.
Opening the first day’s play on Court Philippe Chatrier, Sabalenka served up five aces, hit 30 winners and broke her opponent’s serve five times on her way to a dominant victory under the roof.
A three-time Grand Slam singles champion, Sabalenka has never reached the final of the French Open – her best performance a run to the semi-finals in 2023.
But on this evidence, the 27-year-old is justifying her tag as one of the tournament favourites.
She could face Chinese eighth seed Zheng Qinwen – who she beat in the 2024 Australian Open final – in the quarters and three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in the semis.
Before that, Sabalenka will play Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann or Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini for a spot in the last 32.
