Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep and Rafael Nadal all progress at French Open as big guns avoid slip-up

This is Sharapova’s first visit to Roland Garros since 2015. She missed the 2016 tournament after failing a drugs test and was not given a wild card last year

Maria Sharapova will take on Karolina Pliskova in the next round (Getty)

Maria Sharapova is one of the veterans of women’s tennis these days and the 31-year-old Russian appreciates how much the game is changing. A new wave of younger players are going into their matches ready to attack at every chance and go for their shots, as Sharapova discovered in her 7-5, 6-4 victory over the 21-year-old Croatian, Donna Vekic.

“You see it from the younger generation: there is no holding back,” Sharapova said. “From the perspective of coming into a tournament and just thinking that you might get a few rounds in to warm up is no longer the case. I think that speaks for itself in terms of the quality of players.

“I don’t think there is as much consistency in the top 10 as there has been maybe years ago. That’s no secret, either.”

This is Sharapova’s first visit to Roland Garros since 2015. She missed the 2016 tournament after failing a drugs test and was not given a wild card last year, when her world ranking was not high enough to earn her direct entry into the main draw following her return from suspension.

The victory over Vekic was played on Court 1, which is nicknamed the “bull-ring” because of its circular design. “I like the intimate atmosphere of the court,” Sharapova said. “I’ve always enjoyed playing there. It’s been a few years since I have been on it.”

Next up for Sharapova is a meeting with Karolina Pliskova, the world No 6, which may well be played on Court Philippe Chatrier, the main show court here.

“Of course I would love to be there again,” Sharapova said. “It’s been a while since I played Pliskova. It will be our first meeting on clay and it’s been a few years since I have been back on that court. If I do have a chance to play on it I will welcome it with open arms.”

Pliskova lost the first set to her fellow Czech, Lucie Safarova, but won 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. “For sure I will have to play my best tennis,” Pliskova said as she looked forward to facing Sharapova. “She’s playing very well right now.”

The former world No 1 in action against Donna Vekic (Getty)

Some of the tournament’s biggest names made more impressive progress into the third round. Simona Halep swept aside Taylor Townsend, beating the American 6-3, 6-1 in just 68 minutes, while Garbine Muguruza beat Fiona Ferro, a French wild card, 6-4, 6-3.

Rafael Nadal had to save four break points in his opening game against Argentina’s Guido Pella but was soon in control against the world No 78. The defending champion won 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, which means he has now won his last 27 sets here.

Dominic Thiem, the only man who has beaten Nadal on clay in the last two years, held off the challenge of Stefanos Tsitsipas, winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in an entertaining encounter between two players with single-handed backhands, which is a rarity these days.

Tsitsipas, aged 19, has climbed 122 places in the world rankings in the last nine months and is the second youngest player in the world’s top 100 behind Denis Shapovalov, who also went out of the tournament. The 19-year-old Canadian made 82 unforced errors in his 5-7, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 defeat by the 22-year-old German, Maximillian Marterer.

Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares got their doubles campaign off to a winning start, beating Dusan Lajovic and Florian Mayer 6-1, 7-5.