Amelie Mauresmo showed no mercy to one her greatest fans, sweeping aside teenager Alize Cornet 6-0, 6-2 in a one-sided all-French contest in the second round of the French Open on Thursday.
The 15-year-old Cornet, who grew up admiring Mauresmo, is ranked 642 spots below the world number three and was playing her 14th professional match while her opponent was contesting her 532nd.
"I was not overawed by the court nor by the people but I was definitely overawed by Amelie," said wild-card entrant Cornet, who was appearing on one of the showcase courts which was packed on a bright, sunny day.
So fond of Mauresmo is Cornet that she once picked up a broken racket left behind by her idol, who had been playing on the court next to hers at a training facility near Nice.
Mauresmo, seeded third, was not too harsh on her admirer, allowing her to win two games in the second set.
"It reminded me of the first time I stepped into a big court," said Mauresmo. "I thought she was great. She just went for it. She's got a great future."
The darling of the French crowds, Mauresmo is desperate to succeed in Paris and claim her first grand slam crown.
The former world number one, who could never quite deal with the pressure weighing on her at her home event, has recruited the help of Yannick Noah.
The last Frenchman to win at Roland Garros in 1983 is giving her advice and keeping a close eye on her from the stands.
Noah and his new charge will face tougher opposition in the next round in Serbia and Montenegro's Ana Ivanovic, the 29th seed.
Cornet's Roland Garros adventure is far from over as she will play the mixed doubles with Frenchman Gael Monfils as well as next week's junior tournament.
If she has any free time, she can always go to watch Mauresmo.
France's Tatiana Golovin, who is just two years older than Cornet but in a totally different league, advanced comfortably with a 6-0 6-1 demolition of Italy's Antonella Serra Zanetti.
Russia-born Golovin, who moved to France when she was eight months old, is ranked 20th in the world and seeded 17th here. She failed to survive the first round in her two previous appearances at Roland Garros.
Golovin hurt her ankle in training but it did not show, the Frenchwoman moving effortlessly.
"I have an ankle problem and I'm always afraid I might slip but it was okay," she said.
