By Ros Satar
(May 27, 2013) PARIS – In a court change that saw the defending French Open champion sensibly moved over from Chatrier to Lenglen, Maria Sharapova made light work of Su-Wei Hsieh 6-2, 6-1.
As the temperature cooled for the evening, Sharapova quickly took the first three games and stayed a break ahead until she broke Hsieh again to take the first set in just 27 minutes.
After breaking Hsieh again to lead 3-1, and twice after that sealed the match in 53 minutes.
It had been a long day for the defending champion, and she had come to the park early to prepare, and seemed to be un-phased by the court move.
Given the choice between delaying her first round match, with disruptions due to bad weather likely over the next two days, and playing her match as scheduled this evening, it seemed like the right move.
She joked in her news conference instead about Skyping with her father whenever she wanted to talk to her dog, and how pleased she was to have her mother travelling with her.
She will face up and coming teenager Eugenie Bouchard from Canada in her second round.