Aryna Sabalenka is chasing her title in Paris, but she’s also struggling with the heat. Defending champion Coco Gauff has also advanced to the next round.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is gaining a bit more momentum in her quest for the French Open title, but she’s still facing challenges.
The four-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus, who is still waiting for her first title in Paris, confidently defeated France’s Elsa Jacquemot in the second round 7-5, 6-2, improving her play especially in the second set. The heat was clearly taking its toll on her.
In her opening match against Spain’s Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro, Sabalenka had put in a performance marred by errors for long stretches.
French Open: Gauff also advances to the next round
The clay-court season had not started well for the co-favorite. At the tournament in Madrid, Sabalenka lost in the quarterfinals, and in Rome she was eliminated as early as the second round. In the third round in Paris, she will face Russian-born Daria Kasatkina, who competes for Australia.
Defending champion Coco Gauff of the U.S., who defeated Sabalenka in last year’s final, also advanced past her second-round opponent. The 22-year-old easily defeated Mayar Sherif of Egypt 6-3, 6-2.
