Last year's Roland Garros finalist comfortably accounted for the Czech Republic's Iveta Benesova 6-2, 6-3 in just over an hour in the tournament's opening match on centre court.
With the Australian flag waving on Court Philippe Chatrier to represent Stosur's appearance in last year's final, the Queenslander quickly found her feet after dropping her opening service game.
It was a sharp opening act by Stosur in her bid to capture a maiden grand slam title and become Australia's first women's singles grand slam champion since 1980.
The eighth seed will next play world number 67 Simona Halep.
The Australian defeated the Romanian in straight sets in their only meeting in the opening round at Roland Garros last year.
Stosur's first major test in Paris is expected to come in a possible fourth-round encounter with in-form Julia Goerges, the tall German having toppled Stosur in three sets on clay in the semi-finals in Stuttgart last month.
Meanwhile compatriot and wildcard Casey Dellacqua had her return to Roland Garros cut short as she was bundled out 7-5, 6-3 by 32nd seed Tsvetana Pironkova.
The Australian held a break of serve in the opening set but was unable to stop the Bulgarian from claiming victory in 86 minutes on court six.
It was Dellacqua's first outing at Roland Garros since 2008, with a series of injuries having stalled her progress in recent years.
-AAP
Tags: sport, tennis, australia, france First posted May 22, 2011 20:30:00
No comments:
Post a Comment