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French Open: Serena powers on, Djokovic, Nadal secure wins

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Defending champion Serena Williams goes into the third round of the French Open having lost just five games in two matches.

The world number one raced past Magdalena Rybarikova in round one in just 42 minutes.

She was detained a little longer by Brazil’s Teliana Pereira on Thursday but a 6-2 6-1 victory in 66 minutes was
hardly a serious test.

Also, world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Spain’s Rafael Nadal breezed into the third round of the French Open after recording straight sets victories today at Roland Garros.

Djokovic, who is seeking to claim the only Grand Slam title which currently eludes him, was tested in the opening set of his clash against Steve Darcis on Suzanne-Lenglen.

The Belgian, who stunned Nadal in the first round of Wimbledon in 2013, was broken early in the match but doggedly held off the Serbian star and created two opportunities to level the score and force a first set tie-break.

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However, Djokovic held on to claim the opener and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead in the second, eventually going on to claim the set 6-3.

After trading breaks with Darcis in the third set, Djokovic then made the decisive move to emerge as a 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 victor.

The 11-time Grand Slam winner will now face Britain’s Aljaz Bedene, after the Slovenian-born player recorded a 7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

Nadal continued his pursuit of a 10th French Open crown with a straightforward demolition of Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis.

The Spaniard was looking to record his 200th victory at a Grand Slam but made an uncertain start after being broken in his first service game.

Despite the early blow, Nadal quickly took control of the match and cruised to a 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 triumph against the world number 99.

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