Tennis – French Open:Last year's French Open runner-up Robin Soderling looks in the mood for another Roland Garros run after dominating his opening match of the this year's event.
The Swede was the story of last year's tournament, stunning Rafael Nadal in one of the sport's greatest-ever upsets before progressing to the final where he lost to Roger Federer.
Seeded fifth this year, Soderling had no problems in dismissing French wild card Laurent Recouderc on Sunday, claiming a 6-0 6-2 6-3 victory.
Soderling lost just five points, none on serve, in winning the first set.
His opponent, ranked 179th in the world, looked totally outclassed as the winners flew past him on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Recouderc finally opened his account in the 10th game of the match, drawing a roar of approval from the crowd in the process.
But it was only a temporary respite as Soderling continued to dominate affairs and pushed on to complete a comfortable victory.
Mikhail Youzhny also swept through to round two on Sunday.
The Russian 11th seed crushed Poland's Michal Przysiezny 6-1 6-0 6-4, his only problematic moment coming when he served for the match at 5-2 and was broken for the only time in the match.
However, 10th seed Marin Cilic did not things all his own way on the opening day.
The Croatian, who reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January, needed four sets to see off little-known Ricardo Mello, eventually winning 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-1.
When Cilic stormed through the first set in just 25 minutes it appeared an easy day's work was on the cards on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
But his opponent knuckled down and hit back in second, gaining the only break of serve in the eighth game.
Mello then established a 2-0 lead in third set but that was as good as it got for the Brazilian.
Cilic hit back immediately with a break to love and claimed his opponent's serve again to lead 5-3. He duly served out for a two-sets-to-one lead and from that point was never troubled.
The fourth set was a one-sided affair, Cilic breaking three times as he booked his place in the next round.