The first four days of the French Open presented upsets and some favorites battling to survive and advance. However, on Thursday, it was business as usual for the top players as the second round was completed at Roland Garros.

Williams Sisters Cruise

Both Serena and Venus Williams moved into the third round with little resistance as the top seed rolled past Teliana Pereira 6-2, 6-1, while the ninth seed eliminated American Louisa Chirico by the same score.

It took Serena just an hour and eight minutes to advance into the third round, overpowering the Brazilian with 31 winners as she won all but three first-serve points. The level of play from the world No. 1 was too much for Pereira on the day.

There has been plenty of chatter in regard to the status of Serena’s game since her stunning defeat to Roberta Vinci in the semifinals of last season’s U. S. Open. Following the loss, she did not play again in 2015 and has only played four tournaments in 2016, with one resulting in a final loss to Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open. Clearly not playing her best tennis earlier in the season, Williams began to turn it around just prior to the French Open in Rome, and she now looks to be closer to her accustomed form in Paris. She has lost just five games in her first two matches.

Asked why her game has taken shape again at the second major of the season, Serena responded, “I think they (Grand Slam events) have always been super important for me, but obviously as time goes on they are more of a focus.” Williams will face 26th-seeded Kristina Mladenovic in the third round.

Meanwhile, sister Venus has also begun to play at a higher level as well, after what has been a disappointing 2016 to this point. After gutting out a first-round win that took two tiebreaks, she would have no difficulties against the up-and-coming Chirico. The 20-year-old entered Paris playing solid tennis but met her match against the big strikes from Venus, who attacked and capitalized on the young American’s serve. Williams kept her fellow countrywoman on the defensive for much of the contest as Chirico could only strike six winners in the match.

With the win, Venus has reached the third round at Roland Garros for the first time in six years. After the match, she stated that she is content at this point in her career. “I definitely stay in the moment. I'm just grateful I think with every year that passes, and every moment that I play, I'm grateful for this experience and blessed,” she said. “What else could I ask for, really? I'm very happy with what happens, win, lose, or draw. Of course I like to win and I prepare for wins, but it's been beautiful to do what I love for a long time.”

Djokovic, Nadal Cruise

Both top-seeded Novak Djokovic and fourth-seeded Rafael Nadal cruised into the third round with straight-sets victories on Thursday.

Djokovic defeated Steve Darcis of Belgium 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 despite 42 unforced errors and dropping his serve twice during the match. As seen in past competition, the Serb was better on bigger points and broke Darcis’ serve five times to gain the edge in the match.

Reflecting afterward, the world No. 1 did not seem concerned by his level of play at this point. “Hopefully, that's not going to happen in the following rounds,” he said. “The matches will get tougher, and it’s kind of expected at the beginning that you are a bit rusty on the court, and hopefully things will get better.” It was a milestone victory for the 11-time major champion as he earned his 50th career win at the tournament.

Meanwhile, Nadal was on point during his match and continues to build on a successful clay-court season as he seeks another title at Roland Garros. He defeated Facundo Bagnis 6-3, 6-0, 6-3, and the Spaniard moves on having dropped just nine combined games in the first two rounds.

The left-hander took advantage of a poor serving day by the Argentine and controlled play from the baseline, keeping Bagnis off balance. He would benefit from 39 unforced errors on the day.

With the result, Nadal reached a milestone as well, having logged his 200th Grand Slam match win, but he was focused on the bigger picture afterwards. “The most important thing is a victory in the second round more than the 200 victories,” he said. “I need to keep playing better if I want to have chances in the next rounds. I know there are still things I can improve, so I'm still practicing and working on them.”

Nadal will face fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers in the third round.