Top seed Sabalenka powers into French Open second round

World number one Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the second round of the French Open on Sunday with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova.

Sabalenka broke Rakhimova five times as she wrapped up victory in an hour to make a convincing start to her Roland Garros campaign.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka will play Switzerland's Jil Teichmann or Italian qualifier Lucrezia Stefanini for a spot in the last 32. 

The 27-year-old from Belarus has never reached the final in Paris, but the tournament appears more open than in recent years given the struggles of three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek.

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© Agence France-Presse