Mattek-Sands sets up Sharapova clash in Paris Open

Reuters) - Bethanie Mattek-Sands set up a second-round meeting with Maria Sharapova at the Paris Open with a blistering 6-0 6-3 win over Carla Suarez Navarro on Tuesday.

The American sported knee-length socks and showed she really meant business against the hapless Spaniard on the hardcourt at the Stade Coubertin, a short walk from Paris’s more famous tennis venue -- Roland Garros.

A decision on the French Open possibly moving away from Roland Garros from 2016 could come on Sunday but for now the crowd have been enjoying the spectacle of the city’s lesser tournament.

The Paris Open, with retired former player Amelie Mauresmo as new co-tournament director, has attracted a decent field and world number 17 Kaia Kanepi made sure she progressed with a 7-6 6-2 first-round win over Anastasija Sevastova.

Czech fourth seed Petra Kvitova swatted aside Russian qualifier Vesna Manasieva 7-5 6-4 while Jelena Dokic fought back to beat Lucie Safarova 4-6 6-3 6-4 in one of the best matches of the day albeit infront of a sparse crowd.

Dokic, who has fallen so far from her career-high ranking of number four in 2002 that she had to qualify for the first round, sent down a stream of booming forehands to triumph as Safarova’s bandaged hamstring and use of on-court coaching failed.

“I really lifted my level. I served well the whole match,” Australian Dokic said courtside.

Second seed Sharapova had a bye in the first round and skipped a scheduled news conference on Tuesday because she was unwell. However, she plans to play Mattek-Sands on Thursday.

Top seed Kim Clijsters, still fresh from her Australian Open triumph, takes on Germany’s Kristina Barrois in their second round encounter on Wednesday knowing a semi-final berth at the 19th edition of the Paris Open will make her world number one.