A merciless Maria Sharapova whizzed past unheralded Romanian Alexandra Cadantu 6-0, 6-0 to book her place in the second round of the French Open on Tuesday.
Russian second seed Sharapova was her usual sulky, aggressive self, peppering a sunsoaked Court Suzanne Lenglen with winners to crush the world number 78 in 48 minutes.
Sharapova, who has a chance of taking over from Victoria Azarenka as World No. 1 depending of the Belarussian's run in Paris, blew kisses to the crowd after wrapping it up when Cadantu sent a backhand long on the first match point.
The Russian, who needs the French crown to complete her grand slam title collection, will next face Japan's Ayumi Morita.
Czech Republic fourth seed Petra Kvitova barely broke sweat to see off Australian wild card Ashleigh Barty 6-1, 6-2 to reach the second round.
The Wimbledon champion needed just 54 minutes on a sundrenched Court Suzanne Lenglen to subdue her 16-year-old opponent.
World number 332 Barty broke Kvitova's serve in the first game of the second set but the Czech had simply too much pace.
Kvitova will next meet either France's Pauline Parmentier or Poland's Urszula Radwanska.
Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
