Last year's runner-up Ana Ivanovic reached the second round of the French Open with a 6-2 7-5 defeat of Swede Sofia Arvidsson.

The 20-year-old, second-seeded Serbian broke in the fourth and sixth games and, despite dropping serve in the seventh, bagged the first set on her opponent's serve after 39 minutes.

The 24-year-old Swede, however, rebelled to avoid a repeat of last year's 6-2 6-0 first-round drubbing at the hands of Ivanovic.

The Australian Open runner-up fell a break behind early in the second set but clawed her way back to wrap it up with a forehand winner after 95 minutes on her first match point.

Up next for the world number two is Czech Lucie Safarova, who crushed German Sandra Kloesel 6-1 6-1.

Iveta Benesova, meanwhile, caused the tournament's first upset by beating Czech compatriot and former semi-finalist Nicole Vaidisova 7-6 6-1.

Vaidisova failed to snap her wretched run of form when she became the first seeded casualty.

The 15th seed, who reached the last four two years ago, failed to get going in the second set and, predictably, skidded out by producing a double fault on match point.

World number 70 Benesova's 76-minute win condemned Vaidisova to her worst showing at the claycourt slam in four visits, and her sixth successive defeat dating back to March.

Benesova will be aiming to progress beyond the second round for the first time in seven attempts when she faces either Russia's Anastasia Rodionova or Peng Shuai of China next.

Serena Williams, eager for a second French Open trophy following her success in 2002, began her campaign with a ruthless 6-2 6-1 win over fellow American Ashley Harkleroad.

She will next play Frenchwoman Mathilde Johansson, who shocked compatriot Camille Pin 6-4 4-6 6-2.

Alize Cornet of France moved through to round two on the clay against Ukraine's Julia Vakulenko 7-5 6-4.

Sara Errani of Italy or Gisela Dulko of Argentina will await her.

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Reuters