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Aryna Sabalenka underlined her French Open title credentials by completing another commanding straight-set win to reach the third round at Roland Garros.
The world number two took just 62 minutes to dismiss Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-2 6-2 under the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier.
That win followed an opening victory over Erika Andreeva, in which she lost just three games.
Her potential semi-final opponent, fourth seed Elena Rybakina, recovered from 4-2 behind in the second set to also clinch a straight-set win on Thursday.
Kazakh Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, defeated Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 6-3 6-4 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Sabalenka, who reached the last four at Roland Garros in 2023, has made at least the semi-finals at each of her past six Grand Slams.
The 26-year-old Belarusian combined trademark power with measured drop shots as she produced 27 winners in recording an efficient win over her 83rd-ranked opponent.
Having begun the year by successfully defending her Australian Open title, Sabalenka prepared for the French Open by reaching the final in the clay at both the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.
On both occasions Sabalenka lost out to world number one Iga Swiatek, who had to save a match point as she overcame Naomi Osaka in a three-set thriller on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Danielle Collins’ final French Open came to an end as she suffered a surprise defeat by world number 125 Olga Danilovic of Serbia.
In another shock defeat, Latvian ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko – the 2017 champion – was beaten 7-6 (4) 4-6 6-3 by 72nd seed Clara Tauson of Denmark.
Russian 10th seed Daria Kasatkina, who reached the semi-finals two years ago, lost 7-5 6-2 to American Peyton Stearns.
Elsewhere, Ukraine’s 15th seed Elina Svitolina progressed with a 6-4 7-6 (7-3) victory over French home hope Diane Parry, while 14th seed Madison Keys claimed a 6-0 7-6 (9-7) win against Egypt’s Mayar Sherif.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova fought back in a rain-disrupted display against American Katie Volynets, winning 0-6 6-1 6-4.
Canada’s Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 US Open winner, recovered to beat Russian 23rd seed Anna Kalinskaya 1-6 7-5 6-3, while American Amanda Anisimova, semi-finalist in 2019, was beaten 6-2 6-1 by Russian 17th seed Liudmila Samsonova.