With straight-set victories at the French Open, defending champion Iga Swiatek and Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina demonstrated their title credentials.
Swiatek, the world number one from Poland, advanced to the third round at Roland Garros after defeating American Claire Liu 6-4 6-0.
She will then play China’s Wang Xiyu.
Rybakina of Kazakhstan, who won the Italian Open last week, defeated 18-year-old Czech Linda Noskova 6-3 6-3 for her seventh consecutive triumph on clay.
In the last 32, the 23-year-old fourth seed will face Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain.
Swiatek and Rybakina are part of the WTA Tour’s developing ‘big three,’ together with Belarusian world number two Aryna Sabalenka, who have won the last four Grand Slam championships between them.
They are the top two players on the WTA Tour this season, while Rybakina remains fourth in the 52-week rankings, trailing American Jessica Pegula, after not getting points for her Wimbledon victory last year.
Swiatek, who also won the US Open last year, earned back-to-back straight-set victories in Paris and, as she did against Cristina Bucsa of Spain, secured victory in style by winning every game in a powerful second-set performance against her 102nd-ranked opponent.
Rybakina, who lost to Sabalenka in the Australian Open final in January, demonstrated with her win against Noskova that she has the potential to go far at Roland Garros.
Her best result came in 2021, when she advanced to the quarter-finals.
Sabalenka, 25, has already advanced to the third round after defeating compatriot Iryna Shymanovich in straight sets on Wednesday.
‘Stay humble and don’t be a diva,’ Andreeva says of her goal of winning 25 titles.
Mirra Andreeva, 16, of Russia, advanced with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over France’s Diane Parry.
Andreeva said a text message from Andy Murray inspired her after she won her first Grand Slam match on Tuesday.
She is the seventh player under the age of 17 to reach the third round of the women’s singles at Roland-Garros. Three of those players, Iva Majoli, Martina Hingis, and Serena Williams, advanced to the event’s final.
In the third round, she might meet American 19-year-old Coco Gauff, who faces Austrian Julia Grabher on Thursday.
When asked what she thinks is the most challenging aspect of succeeding at such a young age, Andreeva replied, “Perhaps, as my coach says, not to be like [a] diva.” To always remain humble.
“Even though I don’t think I’m having much success right now.” I never won a competition. I’m just having fun. “I haven’t done anything extraordinary.”
She said, when asked what she hopes to achieve in sports, “the dream.” I know Djokovic has 22 Grand Slam titles, so I want to go until I’m 25.
“I’m not sure if it’ll be possible.”
Also on Thursday, American qualifier Kayla Day defeated compatriot and 20th seed Madison Keys 6-2 4-6 6-4.
The 23-year-old left-hander will face Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the third round of Roland Garros in her debut outing in the main draw.
