Zverev aims to build against Machac at French Open, Svitolina downplays title talk

PARIS, May 26 : The French Open second round gets under way on Wednesday with a mouth-watering lineup featuring four-times champion Iga Swiatek and 24-times major winner Novak Djokovic.

Second seed Alexander Zverev will continue his quest for a first Grand Slam title, while Elena Rybakina and Jasmine Paolini are also set to take centre stage at Roland Garros.

TOP MEN'S MATCH: ALEXANDER ZVEREV v TOMAS MACHAC

Zverev has reached three Grand Slam finals without a title to show for it, but the French Open has increasingly looked his most viable route to a maiden major trophy.

The German has built a strong record with multiple semi-final runs and a runner-up finish before last year's quarter-final exit, and all eyes will be on him as one of the main challengers to stop world number one Jannik Sinner.

Zverev kicked off his bid with a straight-sets win over Benjamin Bonzi and will resume it against Machac, having tasted success against the Czech in their only previous meeting at the Paris Olympics two years ago.

"Very good start to the tournament. It's always nice to start with a straight-sets win," Zverev said. "I have to build on it."

TOP WOMEN'S MATCH: SVITOLINA V QUEVEDO

Elina Svitolina was expected to cruise into the second round but the Ukrainian survived a major scare when the unheralded Anna Bondar forced her to a final set tiebreak.

Fresh from winning the Italian Open, Svitolina credited "mental toughness" for getting through the nail-biting contest while dismissing growing chatter about her title credentials.

"I'm not thinking too much. I think people are talking too much about it. I think I'm in good form, but there are still players who are more favourites than me," Svitolina said.

"I think at least five players who are still