Top seeds Li, Kvitova and Wozniacki march on
May 31, 2012 -- Updated 1737 GMT (0137 HKT)
World No.7 Li Na became China's first grand slam champion when she won the 2011 French Open.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Li Na reaches the French Open third round after beating Stephanie Foretz Gacon
- Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova also win
- 2011 runner-up Francesca Schiavone fights back to beat Tsvetana Pironkova
- No. 10 Angelique Kerber and 18th seed Flavia Pennetta will play each in round three
(CNN) -- Defending champion Li Na continued the defense of her French Open crown on Thursday with a second round win over Stephanie Foretz Gacon.
Seventh seed Li, who became China's first grand slam champion with her Roland Garros triumph last year, recorded a straight-forward 6-0 6-2 victory over the Frenchwoman in just 52 minutes.
The 30-year-old will play unseeded American Christina McHale in round three, after the world No. 35 got the better of compatriot Lauren Davis.
Li's fellow grand slam winner Petra Kvitova also registered a comfortable win, beating 90th-ranked Pole Urszula Radwanska 6-1 6-3.
Virginie Razzano beats Serena Williams
Spirit, fitness and David Ferrer
Gilles Simon's endurance advantage
The 2011 Wimbledon champion, ranked No. 4 in the world, set up a meeting with Russian Nina Bratchikova.
Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki also looked in good touch as she scored a 6-1 6-4 victory against Australia's Jarmila Gajdosova.
The Dane, who is yet to win a grand slam title, has not clinched a WTA Tour title since August 2011 and has recently struggled with form and fitness.
But having switched from being coached by her father Piotr to working with former Australian Open Champion Thomas Johansson, Wozniacki feels positive about her future.
"It's been working well," the 21-year-old, who will face 23rd seed Kaia Kanepi in round three, told the tournament's official website. "He tells me what he thinks and he's not soft.
"I don't like when someone tells me, 'Oh, it's great, it's great' when it's actually terrible ... I want someone who is strict and tells me things how they are."
Italy's Francesca Schiavone, a beaten finalist in 2011, battled back from one set down against Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova to set up a contest with Uzbekistan-born American Varvara Lepchenko.
Lepchenko, ranked 61 in the world, advanced courtesy of a shock 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 6-4 win against former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic.
German 10th seed Angelique Kerber cruised past Bulgaria's Olga Govortsova, winning 6-3 6-2. The 24-year-old will play Italian No. 18 Flavia Pennetta in round three.
Part of complete coverage on
May 1, 2013 -- Updated 1129 GMT (1929 HKT)
She towers above him, but she can't do without him. Meet the man who has made Maria Sharapova the world's wealthiest female athlete.
April 22, 2013 -- Updated 1511 GMT (2311 HKT)
When Maria Sharapova underwent shoulder surgery five years ago, many thought her tennis career wouldn't last.
April 18, 2013 -- Updated 1258 GMT (2058 HKT)
Nine-year-old Rebecca Suarez stunned onlookers when she was pulled out of the crowd to team up with Del Potro against Nadal.
April 18, 2013 -- Updated 2115 GMT (0515 HKT)
Janko Tipsarevic is of the belief that his fellow professionals aren't doping -- or at least not on a widespread basis.
March 21, 2013 -- Updated 1429 GMT (2229 HKT)
Agnieszka and Urszula Radwanska are hoping to take their relationship to a new level by emulating tennis' most famous sisters.
March 26, 2013 -- Updated 1324 GMT (2124 HKT)
Open Court meets Poland's world No. 4 Agniezska Radwanska, who's making waves on the women's tennis scene.
March 21, 2013 -- Updated 1402 GMT (2202 HKT)
America's 18-time grand slam champion Chris Evert talks to Open Court about her career and training the next generation of players.
March 21, 2013 -- Updated 1344 GMT (2144 HKT)
CNN's Don Riddell speaks with 11-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal during one of his comeback tournaments in Mexico.
March 21, 2013 -- Updated 1411 GMT (2211 HKT)
Germany's veteran star Tommy Haas opens up to Pat Cash about being away from family on tour, and his many injuries.
March 11, 2013 -- Updated 1150 GMT (1950 HKT)
You'd think John Isner and Nicolas Mahut would be sick of the sight of each other, but their friendship has grown since that epic match.
March 4, 2013 -- Updated 1608 GMT (0008 HKT)
Almost a decade after Andy Roddick's sole U.S. Open victory, America is still waiting for its next male grand slam winner. What's gone wrong?
February 21, 2013 -- Updated 1621 GMT (0021 HKT)
Open Court's Pat Cash meets American No. 1 John Isner, who experts claim has the potential to win a grand slam.
February 25, 2013 -- Updated 0917 GMT (1717 HKT)
CNN's Pat Cash looks at who the next U.S. grand slam champion might be.
February 21, 2013 -- Updated 1545 GMT (2345 HKT)
CNN's Patrick Snell looks at how the famous couple is helping groom the next generation of tennis stars.
February 25, 2013 -- Updated 1009 GMT (1809 HKT)
With his sights set on the top, Ryan Harrison is the youngest player to win a professional match in 20 years.
February 21, 2013 -- Updated 1612 GMT (0012 HKT)
He's "Mac the Mouth" both on and off the court -- one of the most controversial and iconic players in tennis history, and he's still talking up a storm.
January 29, 2013 -- Updated 1131 GMT (1931 HKT)
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have transformed their careers since discovering a diet secret that is battling for mainstream acceptance.
January 28, 2013 -- Updated 1500 GMT (2300 HKT)
Novak Djokovic knew he was going to be a tennis star from an early age when growing up in war-torn Belgrade.
January 17, 2013 -- Updated 1325 GMT (2125 HKT)
Nine women, a bold proposal and a $1 bill. That was what it took for women's tennis to begin a 40-year journey of self-empowerment.
Today's five most popular stories
© 2013 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|