Paris, France (Sports Network) - Three-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova
and reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova were among Tuesday's early
winners in the first round of the 2012 French Open.
The second-seeded Sharapova dropped only 18 points in a 6-0, 6-0 pasting of
Romania's Alexandra Cadantu, while the fourth-seeded Kvitova also had little
trouble in a 6-1, 6-2 thumping of Australia's Ashleigh Barty.
Sharapova needs only a title at Roland Garros to complete a career Grand Slam.
The Russian star has won each of the other three major championships once and
last year reached the semifinals in Paris for the second time in nine visits.
Kvitova denied Sharapova a second Wimbledon crown in last year's finale at the
All England Club for her first career Grand Slam title and is trying to better
her fourth-round result from last year in Paris.
Also winning on Tuesday was former French champ Francesca Schiavone. Seeded
14th this year after winning the title in 2010 and finishing as runner-up to
Li Na last year, Schiavone eased past Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm, 6-3, 6-1.
Another former French champ, Serena Williams, is scheduled for her first-round
match later today. The fifth-seeded American, who won her lone French crown in
2002, will take her 17-0 match record on clay this year onto Court Chatrier
against French veteran Virginie Razzano.
The Sports Network