French Open:World number two Maria Sharapova advanced to the third round of the French Open with a crushing 6-2 6-1 win over seasoned American Jill Craybas at Roland Garros today.
Sharapova, who had struggled to beat France's Emilie Loit in her
first match here, needed just 64 minutes to brush aside her
opponent.
The 32-year-old Craybas is ranked a modest 73rd in the world
but is remembered for stunning Serena Williams in the third round
at Wimbledon two years ago.
She was, however, never in contention against the 20-year-old
Russian. The pair were tied 2-2 in the first set but Sharapova then
won the next 10 games.
After taking the first set with a service winner after 36
minutes, she opened up a 5-0 lead in the second set.
Serving for the match, Sharapova was broken but then captured
her opponent's serve, sealing victory with a forehand volley on the
first match point.
Sharapova prefers fast courts and has never gone beyond the
quarter-finals on four previous visits to the French capital.
The Russian, who held the number one spot earlier this year
before suffering injury worries, goes on to meet Argentina's Gisela
Dulko or Russia's Alla Kudryavtseva.
In Serena Williams' case she was once again caught napping before she regained her focus to squeeze past little-known Venezuelan Milagros Sequera 6-0 7-6.
The Australian Open champion had been dragged to three sets in her opening match on Sunday and a three-day break did little to restore her to usual champion's aura.
Williams, seeded eighth, stormed through the first set in 24 minutes but then started misfiring as her 69th ranked opponent streaked to a 3-0 lead in the second.
The 25-year-old American found her footing in the nick of time to avoid another long-winded contest and sealed victory 7-3 in the tiebreak when Sequera slapped a forehand long.
The eight-times grand slam champion, seeking a second title here after her success in 2002, will next face Michaella Krajicek.