Gauff outclasses qualifier Avdeeva

PARIS : Coco Gauff made a strong start in her bid to win a maiden French Open title as she eased past German world number 208 Julia Avdeeva 6-1 6-1 in the first round on a rainy Monday at Roland Garros for her 50th Grand Slam match victory.

The 20-year-old Gauff, who won the U.S. Open last year to break her Grand Slam duck after losing the 2022 final in Paris, needed less than an hour to advance, even though the match was delayed after Avdeeva accidentally bumped her head against the umpire's when she was contesting a point.

In the second round, world number three American Gauff will take on Slovenia's Tamara Zidansek who beat Belgium's Alison Van Uytvanck 6-2 2-6 6-1.