Ashleigh Barty eased past Shelby Rogers on Thursday in the first round of the Madrid Open as the world number one prepares to try to reclaim her French Open title in Paris next month. Barty enjoyed a comfortable 6-2, 6-1 victory over Rogers to book her place in round two, where she will face either Hsieh Su-Wei or Tamara Zidansek. The Australian will be one of the favourites at Roland Garros after her victory there in 2019 and because of her excellent recent form. 

Barty arrived in Madrid on the back of winning her third WTA title this year in Stuttgart, which took her winning streak to 11 matches on European red clay. She said on Thursday she would to have adjust to the outdoor conditions in Madrid but there was little sign of awkwardness against Rogers, whom she has now beaten five times out of five, including four times this year. "The rate that we're going, we'll play every month this year, just make it a tradition," said Barty in a press conference.