Reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek gave an "inspired" display of clay-court tennis against outclassed former US Open winner Emma Raducanu to book her ticket to the third round of Roland Garros on Wednesday.
Poland's Swiatek swept to a 6-1, 6-2 win in 79 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier where she has lifted the trophy four timesincluding for the last three editions.
"Honestly, I just love playing here. This place inspires me and that makes me work harder," she enthused.
For 22-year-old Raducanu it was her first time on the main court at Roland Garros and she could not pull off the hoped-for upset.
"It's a surrounding that she's obviously very comfortable with and she's played in it a lot of times," said Raducanu.
"I think that did emphasise me feeling a bit uncomfortable."
By contrast, Swiatek was in her element as she continues her bid to become the first woman to win four consecutive French Open titles since Suzanne Lenglen 102 years ago.
"From the beginning, I knew what I wanted to do, so I just did it," said the Pole.
"I had a good time on the court, and I felt the game pretty well, so I just went for it," continued Swiatek, who wrapped up victory on her second match point.
After early exits in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome, Swiatek had looked to have lost her feet on clay, slipping to fifth in the world rankings.
But Wednesday's dominant performance now brings the 23-year-old's tally to 23 wins in a row at Roland Garros.
Meanwhile, in the mens competition, reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz booked his spot in the third round at Roland Garros on Wednesday with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Fabian Marozsan, but admitted at times he "couldn't handle" his 56th-ranked opponent.
The Spaniard started imperiously as he raced into a one-set lead before his Hungarian rival broke him in the very first game of the second frame and served out to level matters.
"I think today was a really good match for me. I played great. But yeah, in the second set, at the beginning he broke my serve," Alcaraz told his post-match press conference.
"I think he started to play better and better, and he reached a level that I couldn't handle it.
"So it was great level from him."
However, the world number two swiftly refound his excellent clay court form, which saw him win at Monte Carlo and Rome before Roland Garros, to storm through in four sets.
"(I am) just really proud about refresh my mind and I started the third set really, really well and ended up playing really great two last sets," Alcaraz added.
"I didn't feel like I lost the focus at all. He just played much better. So I just think today was I maintain my level during the whole match.
"But in the second set, he reached just much better level than I did."
Next Alcaraz will face home hope Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Bosnian Damir Dzumhur in the round of 32.
Despite being through to the third round, Alcaraz refused to look forward to a potential final against Italian world number one Jannik Sinner.
"(The) final is too far away right now to think about," he said. "Here in the last four matches against him (Sinner), it's great having wins against him, but I don't know if in case I'm gonna face him sooner or later."
The 22-year-old beat Sinner in the semi-finals of the French Open last year and most recently defeated him in the Italian Open final earlier in May.
Alcaraz has won his last four matches against Sinner on all surfaces, with his only defeat against his rival on clay coming at the Umag final three years ago.
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