TENNIS: Defending champion Gauff earns straight sets win against qualifier Sherif

PARIS — Defending champion Coco Gauff eased past Egyptian qualifier Mayar Sherif 6-3, 6-2 on Thursday to punch her ticket to the French Open third round.

The American, who landed her 80th career main-draw victory at a Grand Slam, never quite hit top form, as her opponent offered some dogged resistance in the first set and kept her off-balance.

"It was a physically tough match. I was really tested today. It took a lot of strength today," Gauff said. "The scoreline doesn't show how physical it was, but obviously Mayar is a tough player. I thought I played well and did what I could with how she was playing."

"I will be focusing on getting more of my rhythm back because I did not have it today," Gauff added.

Sherif tried to rattle her opponent with moonballs early on, but Gauff quickly raced to a 3-0 lead.

Her bright start looked to be fizzling out when Sherif—attempting to become the first woman from her country to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in the Open Era—regained the break by taking chances, firing some tough winners, and hitting drop shots.

Sherif carved out several chances to draw level in a sixth game that lasted more than 13 minutes and was interrupted for an additional eight minutes due to a medical emergency in the stands.

Gauff recovered her composure just in time to protect her lead and bag the set with an ace after an hour and three minutes.

The pair traded early breaks in the second set, with Sherif punching the air when she earned hers to draw even at 2-2.

However, she could not keep up the hunt, and Gauff pulled ahead with another break, sealing the win on her first match point after an hour and 50 minutes.

She will next face either Britain's Katie Boulter or Anastasia Potapova. -Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters