NEW DELHI: Second seed Aryna Sabalenka dominated Japanese qualifier Moyuka Uchijima in a commanding 6-2 6-2 victory under the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on Thursday, securing her spot in the French Open third round.
Uchijima, experiencing the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time, struggled against Sabalenka's formidable serve and groundstrokes.
Despite a shaky start, Uchijima managed to find her rhythm after the initial nerves, but Sabalenka's relentless pressure proved too much. Sabalenka capitalized on a break point opportunity to seize the first set in just 29 minutes.
Although Uchijima showed glimpses of resistance, Sabalenka's power and strategic drop shots kept her in control.
Despite a brief resurgence from Uchijima, Sabalenka maintained her composure to secure victory, showcasing her dominance on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
(With Reuters inputs)