French Open 2023 results: Jessica Pegula beaten in straight sets by Elise Mertens

Jessica Pegula became the highest-ranked women's player to exit the 2023 French Open to date as she was emphatically beaten by Elise Mertens.

American third seed Pegula, a quarter-finalist in Paris last year, struggled in a 6-1 6-3 defeat.

Belgian 28th seed Mertens will face Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the fourth round.

Pegula's time at Roland Garros is not over as she is through to the women's doubles second round with Coco Gauff.

The pair reached the final in 2022, and the semi-finals at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Pegula, whose preparations for the French Open were derailed by food poisoning, was the 21st seed to exit the women's singles inside six days of action.

Friday proved a much easier day for Belarusian world number two Aryna Sabalenka, however, as she comfortably defeated Russian Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2 6-2.

Sabalenka, crowned Australian Open champion in January, will take on Sloane Stephens in the fourth round, after the American beat Yulia Putintseva 6-3 3-6 6-2.

Ninth seed Daria Kasatkina also progressed, making light work of American Peyton Stearns in a 6-0 6-1 win.

The Russian will face Ukraine's Elina Svitolina next, after she came from behind to defeat Anna Blinkova - also of Russia - 2-6 6-2 7-5. She had the trainer on to administer some eye drops after losing the first set and from then on turned the match around.

Svitolina did not shake hands with Blinkova at the conclusion of their match but paid tribute to her next opponent, Kasatkina, for being "really brave" in previously criticising her country's invasion of Ukraine.

"I'm thankful to Dasha for taking this position," Svitolina said.

Three-time Roland Garros quarter-finalist Svitolina, playing in her first Grand Slam since becoming a mother, is on a seven-match winning streak having won the WTA 250 title in Strasbourg last week, beating Blinkova in the final.