Sharapova, Federer cruise into French Open third round

Defending champion Maria Sharapova and 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer enjoyed comfortable second-round wins at the French Open in Paris.Sharapova, 28, dispatched world number 91 and fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko 6-3, 6-1, in 81 minutes.

Switzerland’s Federer, 33, recovered from a break down in the second set to beat Spain’s Marcel Granollers 6-2, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3.

Simona Halep, runner-up in 2014, is out after defeat by Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

“I’m getting better,” was two-time champion Sharapova’s update on her health after her win over compatriot Diatchenko on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The second seed came into the tournament with a heavy cold and she skipped the usual post-match interview in the first round, prompting a chorus of boos.

“I’ve got to do what I have to do,” was Sharapova’s explanation, and she was again spared the microphone on Tuesday.

“For me right now it’s really about recovery and just being healthy for the next round,” she added.

You have to get your towel down early to claim a practice spot at Roland Garros.

Dani Vallverdu, who left Andy Murray’s team in November and is now Tomas Berdych’s coach, tweeted a picture of 11 players, coaches and entourage members packing out one of the show courts to get a feel for the Parisian clay.

“Who said tennis was an individual sport…” Vallverdu said.

Angus Young, guitarist with veteran rock group AC/DC, was in attendance to see Federer’s win over Granollers, rising from his seat at one point to acknowledge the crowd.

Federer has twice seen Young and his band-mates in concert.

“I even met him once,” Federer said.

“I guess he still remembers. I had long hair. It was 15 years ago.”

With another day of rest for Britain’s three remaining singles players, the main focus was on today’s schedule.

The Parisians have been kind to British fans, scheduling Kyle Edmund v Nick Kyrgios first at 10:00 BST, Andy Murray v Joao Sousa third and Heather Watson v Sloane Stephens fourth.

Murray’s brother, Jamie, gave the family a morale-boosting win over Sousa on Wednesday as he and Australia’s John Peers beat the Portuguese and Thomaz Bellucci 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 6-2.

There was less good news elsewhere as Aljaz Bedene and Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas went down 6-4, 7-5 to Czechs Jiri Vesely and Frantisek Cermak, while Watson and New Zealander Marina Erakovic lost 6-4 7-6 (7-2) to third seeds Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic. — BBC Sport.