No. 2 seed Roger Federer was hardly troubled by Alejandro Falia on his track to the second round of the French Open on Sunday.
The Swiss opened his campaign with a rather unconvincing 6-3 6-3 6-4 win over the Colombian wildcard to take his record on clay this season to 10-3.
Last year’s losing finalist Simona Halep also got off on a winning note against Russia’s Evygeniya Rodina, who made her work rigorously before claiming a 7-5 6-4 win.
The Romanian will have to make subsequent amendments in her game when she faces Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the second round.
The third seed gave away a service game when 5-4 up in the first set, allowing Rodina to level, but the latter eventually double-faulted on her own serves to relinquish the opening set to Halep.
The second set was not easier for the seeded Halep, though she closed out victory after 15 minutes over an hour.
“It was a tough match, because it was first round and always is difficult to start the tournament,” she told reporters.
“Yeah, I did make some easy mistakes, but it’s normal and I accept that. Next round I will be better, for sure.
Lucic-Baroni defeated America’s Lauren Davis 6-3 3-6 6-3 to advance. Garbine Muguruza accounted for Croatia’s Petra Martic 6-2 7-5 and will face Italy’s Camila Giorgi, who defeated Germany’s Maria Tatiana 7-5 6-3, in the second round.
Philipp Kohlschreiber was among some other seeds to advance on the opening day of the Championship, but it was straight off to defeat for No. 25 seed Ivo Karlovic, after a 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4 humbling by Marcos Baghdatis.
Spain’s Roberto Bautisita-Agut saw off Germany’s Florian Meyer 6-2 7-6(7) 6-3 and will face Lucas Rosol in round two.
Eighth-seed Stanislas Wawrinka accounted for Turkey’s Marsel Ilhan 6-3 6-2 6-3.
Russian Mikhail Youzhny’s journey to Paris came to an abrupt end at the expense of Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur. The veteran was left frustrated and had to retire while trailing 6-2 6-1. Dzumhur will face Baghdatis in the second round.
