Caroline Wozniacki raced into the fourth round of the French Open with a crushing victory over home hope Pauline Parmentier.
The feeling among the locals was that Parmentier, the world number 75, had the tools to trouble the second seed and maybe even send her packing.
Instead the 32-year-old found herself facing the dreaded double bagel with Wozniacki up 6-0 5-0 after only an hour.
Full speed ahead ?@CaroWozniacki races past Pauline Parmentier 6-0 6-3 in 78 minutes to reach R16.#RG18 pic.twitter.com/DZPmnIH1Yp
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2018
At deuce Parmentier found a winner to earn a game point and raised her arms in mock celebration.
She actually went on to win the next three games, but it was only delaying the inevitable as Dane Wozniacki went through 6-0 6-3.
“I feel pretty good. I think I played some solid tennis, and I’m happy to be through to the fourth round here again,” said Wozniacki.
“You know, it gets harder and harder with every match. I’m happy to be here.”
Upset Special!
Mihaela Buzarnescu shocks Elina Svitolina 6-3 7-5.#RG18 pic.twitter.com/nQZnh1xxq5
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2018
There was a shock in round three as fourth seed Elina Svitolina tumbled out.
The Ukrainian, twice a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, went down 6-3 7-5 to Mihaela Buzarnescu of Romania, seeded 31.
“Today, really, I was off and couldn’t find my rhythm, my game. I was really struggling,” said Svitolina.
“On the other hand, she was playing great tennis. You know, she was really, really on the ball. I couldn’t do much to get a win. It was not enough.”
Wozniacki will face Russian Daria Kasatkina, seeded 14, in the last 16 after she edged past Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-1 1-6 6-3.
“I love tennis just because it was the only real sport that I ever fell in love with. Even on your bad days you’re still out there playing a sport and doing what you love as your job.” – @Madison_Keys
? https://t.co/s7YzuB0sue#RG18 pic.twitter.com/WjUDN0k0WX
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2018
Buzarnescu takes on Madison Keys, the 13th seed from America who beat Japan’s Naomi Osaka 6-1 7-6 (9/7).
Serena Williams continues her bid for a 24th grand slam title against German 11th seed Julia Goerges on Saturday.
The 36-year-old American is playing her first grand slam since giving birth to her daughter in September.
She said: “Well, she’s (Goerges) been playing really, really well, and I had actually been watching her play a lot when I was pregnant, because she’s been winning a lot and they show a lot of her matches.
“Every round for me is just an opportunity to go out there and do the best that I can do, and whether I win or lose, that’s what I’m out here to do in this tournament.”
