Too early to call me 'Queen of Clay' - Swiatek after emphatic win

Iga Swiatek has won the French Open three times in the past four years

Iga Swiatek began her French Open title defence with a trademark 61-minute dismantling of qualifier Leolia Jeanjean.

The world number one is aiming to become the first woman since Justine Henin in 2007 to win three French Open titles in a row.

And the Pole got off to a strong start, cruising to a 6-1 6-2 win on the second day of play at Roland Garros.

It sets up an intriguing meeting with fellow four-time major champion Naomi Osaka, who is continuing her return from maternity leave.

"It feels like home here," Swiatek told the Paris crowd.

"Hopefully I'm going to be here as long as possible."

Ons Jabeur, Coco Gauff and Marketa Vondrousova were also among the winners on Monday, despite rain disrupting much of the schedule.

However, Greek sixth seed Maria Sakkari suffered a 3-6 6-4 6-3 loss to French 23-year-old Varvara Gracheva.

Britain's Harriet Dart is out after losing 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to Czech 27th seed Linda Noskova, with British number one Katie Boulter in action on Tuesday when she faces former world number two Paula Badosa of Spain.

'Success didn't change him' - Swiatek inspired by Nadal

Swiatek is the heavy favourite for the title in Paris, having won back-to-back clay-court titles in Madrid and Rome.

After a dominant first set, she found herself down a break in the second, but upped her level when needed to wrap up victory.

Asked if she feels like the 'Queen of Clay' - a play on the nickname given to 14-time French Open men's champion Rafael Nadal - Swiatek said: "I think it's too early.

"I'm really proud of my achievements and this has always been my favourite surface.

"I'm just at the beginning but I will try to take some lessons from him on being a good person and a good player."

Swiatek, who returned to Court Philippe Chatrier after her match to watch Nadal play Alexander Zverev, said she was inspired by how the Spanish great has handled himself on and off court.

"He managed to turn around some matches that it seemed impossible to turn around," added the 22-year-old. "This basically really inspired me.

"But also how he is off the court, he's really humble and focused on the work. It seems that success didn't change him."

'A leading figure for the young people'

Ons Jabeur has never gone beyond the quarter-finals at the French Open

Tunisian Jabeur, still seeking her first major singles title after three runner-up finishes, was ruthless in dispatching American wildcard Sachia Vickery 6-3 6-2.

The 29-year-old reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros last year and made the Wimbledon final a month later, losing to Vondrousova. Jabeur had suffered previous finals defeats at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2022.

After her victory on Monday, she spoke of being a role model in the Arab world and how she tries to keep composed in between and during matches.

Jabeur said she used "a lot of meditation, a lot of breathing exercises" and added: "I chose this path intentionally, and I try to give the best image possible of myself to be a leading figure for the young people."

Vondrousova completed an emphatic 6-1 6-3 victory over Spain's Rebeka Masarova in the morning before the rain arrived.

US Open champion Gauff only needed 52 minutes to complete a convincing 6-1 6-1 victory over 21-year-old Russian qualifier Julia Avdeeva, the world number 208.

Sakkari fell to defeat against Gracheva despite winning the opening set, and, following her surprise loss, the 2021 French Open semi-finalist has now exited in the first round at four of her past five Grand Slam appearances.

Elsewhere, American 11th seed Danielle Collins beat compatriot Caroline Dolehide 6-3 6-4, and Italian 12th seed Jasmine Paolini won 6-3 6-4 against Australia's Daria Saville.

Ukrainian 15th seed Elina Svitolina came back to defeat Czech Karolina Pliskova 3-6 6-4 6-2, while Russian 17th seed Liudmila Samsonova thrashed Poland's Magda Linette 6-1 6-1.