Sabalenka off to strong start

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the second round of the French Open yesterday with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova.

- 

Sabalenka broke Rakhimova five times as she wrapped up victory in an hour to make a convincing start to her Roland Garros campaign.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka will play Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann or Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini for a spot in the last 32.

The 27-year-old from Belarus has never reached the final in Paris, but the tournament appears more open than in recent years given the struggles of three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek.

Meanwhile Spanish great Rafael Nadal was due to be celebrated on the opening day of the clay-court Grand Slam.

Nadal, 38, made his earliest exit at the claycourt major he won 14 times following a first-round defeat by Alexander Zverev last year, but did not say then if it was the last time his adoring Parisian fans would watch him in action.