Watson, Robson through

Britons Heather Watson and Laura Robson both moved into the second qualifying round of the French Open on Wednesday.

Britons successfully start their bid to reach the main draw

Britons Heather Watson and Laura Robson both moved into the second qualifying round of the French Open on Wednesday. Watson breezed through her first qualifying match against Canada's Sharon Fichman. The 20-year-old, who is aiming to qualify for the main draw at Roland Garros for the second successive year, triumphed 6-1 6-2 to set up a meeting with Turkey's Ons Jabeur. Twelve months ago Watson became the first British woman to qualify at the tournament since Kate Brasher in 1983, while her first-round victory over Stephanie Foretz Gacon was the first in the main draw by a British woman since Clare Wood in 1994. That run took the Guernsey player into the top 100 but she has struggled for form and fitness this season and is currently ranked 109th. British number four Robson, ranked just below Watson, later joined her in round two thanks to a 6-2 7-6 (7/4) victory over Spain's Estrella Cabeza Candela. The teenager will next face France's Laura Thorpe on Thursday. However, Naomi Broady was unable to join her compatriots in round two. She was thrashed 6-0 6-1 by former Roland Garros quarter-finalist Sesil Karatantcheva. Meanwhile, British interest in the men's qualifying draw was brought to an end when Jamie Baker went down 6-4 6-3 to Spaniard Daniel Munoz-De La Nava.