Muguruza, Raonic thru
PARIS— Reigning French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza breezed into the second round, while Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic prepared to launch their title bids later on Monday. Muguruza’s middling form this season saw her arrive in Paris with just three wins on clay, but the Spaniard dispatched 2010 Roland Garros champion Francesca Schiavone, 6-2, 6-4. The fourth seed will meet Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit for a place in round three as Schiavone, who turns 37 in June, bid farewell to the tournament for the final time ahead of her retirement at the end of the year. “I cannot believe in the first round we have two ex-champions. Not only that but Francesca is a legend and I was very excited to play on Philippe Chatrier court with her,” said Muguruza. “I like to take my chances and be aggressive and today that wasn’t going to be different.”
Muguruza defeated Serena Williams to win her maiden Grand Slam a year ago, but the 23-year-old needs to return to the final to stay in the world’s top 10.
Muguruza lost to Kontaveit at Stuttgart in April, although the Estonian is through to the second round of a Grand Slam for just the second time.
Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic raced into round two with a routine 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Steve Darcis of Belgium.
Raonic, whose best run at the French Open came when he made the 2014 quarterfinals, fired 15 aces and 44 winners.
Nadal and Djokovic will set off ahead of a semifinal collision course, with the former bidding to become the first player in the Open era to win 10 titles at any Grand Slam event.
Nadal will face Benoit Paire of France while Djokovic tackles Marcel Granollers of Spain.