By Tennis Now | Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Grand Slam champions traded blasts in the bullring.

Then Garbiñe Muguruza stampeded through the tie break to take charge.

More: Sharapova Survives Opener

In a clash of former French Open champions, Muguruza conquered Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6 (0), 6-2, advancing to the Roland Garros second round for the sixth straight year.

The reigning Wimbledon champion defeated Kuznetsova for the sixth straight time. Muguruza swept Kuznetsova in the 2016 round of 16 en route to her first Grand Slam title in Paris.

The third-seeded Spaniard served for the first set at 5-4, but could not close.

Contesting her 16th French Open, Kuznetsova broke back to level. The set escalated into a tiebreak.

That's when Muguruza put her foot down.

The 2016 champion stepped inside the baseline and belted deep drives forcing Kuznetsova to counter off her back foot. Muguruza roared through a shutout tiebreak and never looked back.

Muguruza converted four of 14 break points raising her Roland Garros record to 20-4.

The 24-year-old Spaniard, whose last clay-court title came with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Serena Williams in the 2016 final, will play Fiona Ferro next.

The 21-year-old French wild card dismissed Carina Witthoeft, 6-4, 6-2.