Ice-cool under a blistering sun, Maria Sharapova repelled the free hitting of French wildcard Aravane Rezai and the hopes of a Roland Garros crowd to reach the third round of the claycourt Grand Slam on Thursday.
After a shaky first round in which she was stretched to three sets by compatriot Evgenia Linetskaya, the Russian second seed upped her level to beat fellow 18-year-old Rezai 6-3, 6-2 on centre court.
Rezai, ranked 242 places behind the world number two, had a simple game plan: to pelt the ball as hard as she could and go for winners.
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It served her well in the opening exchanges as she streaked into a 3-1 lead but Wimbledon champion Sharapova kept her cool to reel in the Frenchwoman.
"She had nothing to lose, and she was just going for her shots," Sharapova said. "Some balls were just too good.
"But I finally started feeling a good rhythm out there and began playing better."
The Russian said she had twisted her ankle early in the match which distracted her but that it had not been a problem.
Moscow-born Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin soon restored some home pride, the 17th seed thrashing Antonella Serra Zanetti 6-0, 6-1 to advance. She will face either 12th seed Elena Bovina or Tathiana Garbin next.
Sharapova and Golovin were joined in the third round by former world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne who refused to let a sore back sidetrack her as she beat Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-1, 6-4.
The 2003 champion made her comeback to the tour two months ago after spending six months out recovering from a viral illness.
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Although she has emerged as one of the favourites for the French Open after capturing three successive titles, concerns about her fitness were again raised when the 10th seed called the trainer for her back while leading 5-0 in the first set.
"I've had an injury in my back for a few weeks, so it's something I'm having to deal with," said the Belgian who will next face Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues.
"It is a slight sprain...because it's close to a nerve, it's painful. Probably not now, but I will (eventually) have to take a little rest."
In the men's draw last year's runner-up Guillermo Coria advanced after his Serbian opponent Novak Djokovic retired from their match with a foot injury.
Argentine Coria, runner-up to compatriot Gaston Gaudio last year, was leading 4-6, 6-2, 3-2 when a hobbling Djokovic quit.
"I wasn't at ease," a relieved Coria said. "If you have a long, tough match, you start to get nervous; it's very hot.
"Today I went on court feeling it could be a very long match...obviously, it's better not to spend too long on the court."
Russia's Marat Safin and Juan Carlos Ferrero look to set up a third round clash when they play Czech opponents later on Thursday.
Third seed Safin faces Lukas Dlouhy while former champion Ferrero tackles Jan Hernych.
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