(Paris) Canadian Bianca Andreescu was expeditious in the second round of the French Open on Thursday, when she needed only 69 minutes of play to defeat American Emma Navarro 6-1, 6-4 .
The 2019 United States Open champion, Andreescu had never before reached the third round of any of the WTA’s three other major tournaments.
Andreescu, 42e in the world rankings, hammered 18 winners to win against Navarro, 75e.
In the next round, Andreescu will face Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko, who led 6-3, 1-0 when American Lauren Davis forfeited their second-round duel.
Andreescu struggled in the first round, needing two hours and 30 minutes to defeat Victoria Azarenka, 18e seeded, in three innings.
The scenario was different this time around. Andreescu was particularly effective in the first set. She broke her rival’s serve in the first game of the match and was never worried afterwards.
Navarro offered better opposition in the second set. She broke Andreescu’s serve in the fifth game, but the Ontarian played her the same trick three games later.
Andreescu then broke Navarro’s serve for a fifth time in the match in the 10e game to end the encounter.
Leylah Fernandez progresses in doubles
PHOTO GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE, REUTERS
Leylah Annie Fernandez
In women’s doubles, Quebecer Leylah Annie Fernandez made it through the first round, while British Columbian Rebecca Marino suffered elimination.
Fernandez and American Taylor Townsend defeated Italian Sara Errani and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 7-5, 7-6 (3). Fernandez and Townsend are the 10are seeded in the women’s doubles draw.
In the next round, Fernandez and Townsend will cross swords with Estonian Ingrid Neel and Taiwanese Fang-Hsien Wu.
Marino and China’s Lin Zhu lost 7-5, 7-5 to China’s Yifan Xu and Zhaoxuan Yang, 11are seeded.
On Friday, Denis Shapovalov of Ontario will play his men’s singles third round match against Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz.
Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Andreescu will begin their journey in mixed doubles. Dabrowski teams up with American Nathaniel Lammons, while Andreescu plays with Australian Michael Venus.
