Madrid Open Iga Swiatek, Ons Jabeur and Coco Gauff start with easy wins

World number one Iga Swiatek launched her bid for a maiden Madrid Open title with an impressive win over China's Wang Xiyu 6-1 6-4 to reach the third round.

As a three-time champion at Roland Garros and two-time winner in Rome and Stuttgart, Madrid is the only major title on the European clay circuit 22-year.old

Swiatek is yet to lift, having finished runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in last year's final. Second seed Coco Gauff also advanced with ease into the last 32, demolishing Dutch world number 47 Aranxta Rus 6-0 6-0 in just 51 minutes with a dominating display.

Third round qualification proved a tougher task for 2022 Madrid champion and eighth seed Ons Jabeur, however, who earned a hard-fought 6-4 5-7 6-3 win over Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova over two and a half hours, having failed to convert a match point serving with a 5-4 lead in the second set.

NADAL ALSO SAILED THROUGH

Rafael Nadal thrashed 16-year-old wild card Darwin Blanch 6-1 6-0 in the first round of the Madrid Open on Thursday and will face Australian 10th seed Alex de Minaur next. The 22-time Grand Slam champion broke the American at the first opportunity in the second game before grabbing the first set in just 28 minutes.

The American teen committed 27 unforced errors in what was his second ATP tour match after he had made his debut last month in Miami.

I think today I played against someone with a great future in front of him," Nadal said. "(But) Today he was making mistakes. "I tried to be there and be solid all the time without taking a lot of risks. I'm happy to be through and I wish him all the very best

"For me after how things developed the last few years, every time I have a chance to be on court on this amazing stadium with unconditional support means a lot to me. Trying to enjoy every moment.