PARIS: Former champion Jelena Ostapenko ousted second seed Karolina Pliskova from the French Open with a 6-4, 6-2 win in the second round of the French Open on Thursday after an error-ridden performance from the Czech player.
Latvian Ostapenko, who won the 2017 title as an unseeded player, played aggressively from the start and hit 27 winners as a strangely subdued Pliskova struggled to rein in her unforced errors under the closed roof of Court Philippe Chatrier.
"I was just trying to play my game, but I knew I had to return well today because she obviously has, like, one of the best serves on tour, Ostapenko told reporters.
"I think I was returning very well today. Also, I had to hold my serve, which I did pretty good. Also to use some drop shots, because it's a very good shot in these conditions."
The 23-year-old Ostapenko, ranked 43rd, was aggressive from the start as her strangely subdued opponent struggled to rein in the mistakes under the closed Court Philippe Chatrier roof.
Pliskova, known as one of the biggest servers in the women's game, committed three unforced errors and a double fault in the opening game of the match to be broken to love.
The script did not change much for Pliskova for the rest of the afternoon.
Ostapenko went on to break three times in the first set and twice in the second to seal victory in 69 minutes.
She converted her third match point when Pliskova, who had 25 unforced errors, sent a forehand long.
The Latvian painted the red clay with 27 winners against her opponent's nine while keeping her unforced errors to 19.
"I'm sure I could do much better. I know that she can be tough if she's playing well, but I think everything started with me," Pliskova told reporters, adding that she would possibly not play anymore in the 2020 season.
"Definitely I was not playing great. I think maybe the same level as the match before but of course she's a much better player. Not much to say about this match."
Pliskova remains the only active ex-world number one who has not won a Grand Slam.
Former French Open runner-up Sloane Stephens was dumped out of the tournament when she lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to Paula Badosa of Spain in the second round.
The American 29th seed, a finalist at Roland Garros two years ago, was rarely in the mix on court 12, her comeback to one-set all proving to be a false dawn.
The result capped a miserable run on clay this season for the 2017 US Open champion, who entered the event on the back of first-round exits at the Italian Open and Strasbourg International.
Badosa, 22, will play her first third round match at a Grand Slam against 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia.
Top seed Novak Djokovic barely broke sweat in reaching the French Open third round with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis.
Some rare sunshine bathed the Court Phillipe Chatrier, but it was dull viewing for the few spectators allowed in to watch the 33-year-old glide effortlessly through.
The opening set was done and dusted in 22 minutes as Djokovic won the last 10 points and the second set was only marginally more competitive.
Berankis, ranked 66th, needed courtside treatment on his back before the start of the third set but got back to his feet to endure more punishment from the clinical Serb.
Djokovic, bidding for his second French Open crown and 18th Grand Slam title, has dropped 10 games in two rounds so far and occasionally looked bored on Thursday, taking the opportunity to practise his drop shot on numerous occasions.
He finished it off after only 83 minutes with his 10th ace.
It was a carbon copy of the pair's only other Grand Slam clash when Berankis also managed only five games, at the 2013 U.S. Open.
It was Djokovic's 70th victory at the French Open, moving him into joint second place on the all-time list with Roger Federer.
American fourth seed Sofia Kenin ran into a spot of bother before reaching the third round with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Romanian Anna Bogdan.
Kenin, the best American hope at Roland Garros along with last year's semi-finalist Amanda Anisimova after Serena Williams withdrew injured on Wednesday, was out of sorts in the opening set before finding her range.
The Australian Open champion struggled to handle Bogdan's cross-court backhands at first, but once she gained control of the rallies the tide turned completely.
However, Kenin had trouble finishing the contest off at 5-1 as Bogdan saved three match points to survive for another game, which the American then bagged with a forehand winner on her fourth match point.
The 21-year-old Kenin, whose best result at the French Open is reaching the fourth round last year, next faces either another Romanian, qualifier Irina Bara, or Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck.
Canadian 18-year-old Leylah Annie Fernandez reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time as she beat experienced Polona Hercog 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
In other second round matches, 11th seed Garbine Muguruza beat Kristyna Pliskova 6-3, 6-2, Zhang Shuai beat Alize Cornet 6-4, 7-6, Laura Siegemund beat Julia Gorges 1-6, 6-1, 6-3, Clara Burel beat Kaja Juvan 7-6, 6-2, Ons Jabeur beat Nao Hibino 7-6, 6-4, eighth seed Aryna Sabalenka beat Daria Kasatkina 7-6, 6-0, Leylah Fernandez beat Polona Hercog 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
In men's section, fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Pablo Cuevas 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, Aljaz Bedene beat Nikola Milojevic 7-5, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6, Pablo Carreno Busta beat Guido Pella 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, Grigor Dimitrov beat Andrej Martin 6-4, 7-6, 6-1, 15th seed Karen Khachanov beat Jiri Vesely 6-1, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6. Agencies