Gold favorite Iga Swiatek cruises into second round in Paris

(Photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Network)

PARIS -- Poland's Iga Swiatek launched her bid for Olympic gold with a 6-2, 7-5 win over battling Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu in the opening round of women's singles on Saturday.

Fifty days after clinching a fourth French Open title, the 23-year-old Swiatek returned to the Parisian clay and showed why she is favorite to add the Olympic gold to her resume.

The opening day of