French Open: Daria Kasatkina flattens Peyton Stearns to continue storming run at Roland-Garros

Daria Kasatkina issued a statement of intent at the French Open by flattening Peyton Stearns 6-0 6-1 in just 55 minutes to reach the fourth round.

The ninth seed bageled her beleaguered opponent in 25 minutes to take the opening set and broke early in the second to seize control of a one-sided encounter.

Stearns eventually got on the board after a run of eight consecutive games for the Russian, but she was soon broken again as Kasatkina continued her relentless march towards victory.

“The score doesn’t show what was going on on the court,” Kasatkina said.

“Everything was going my way, but the level of tennis was high. After the first set, I knew that everything could change and I was extremely focused and two times more than before the actual match. I’m happy with the way I kept my focus, my game and fighting for every point.”

Kasatkina reached the semi-finals at Roland-Garros last year, a career-best run at a Grand Slam event.

The 26-year-old will face Elina Svitolina or Anna Blinkova next.

Kasatkina was outstanding on serve, making 93% of her first serves in both sets, and she took six of her eight break point chances in a clinical display.

The Russian is yet to drop a set in Paris, having taken down Jule Niemeier and Marketa Vondrousova in the opening two rounds before her resounding victory over Stearns.

It marked the end for the 21-year-old American, but she earned praise from her opponent after an impressive run in which she took down 17th seed Jelena Ostapenko.

“Today was our first [encounter]. I didn’t know her, but I knew she was a good player as she’s shown a few good results, beating Ostapenko in the last round,” said Kasatkina.

“Today was not her day but I think she has a bright future with all the strokes. It’s [a good experience] for her. I’m happy to save the energy as well [with a straight sets win]. That’s important in the Slams.”

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