Serena makes low-key start

Paris - Twice former champion Serena Williams has made a low-key start to her French Open campaign with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Czech qualifier Andrea Hlavackova on Tuesday.

The world number one, eyeing a 20th grand slam singles title, raced into a 3-0 lead but was givenm a decent workout after that by a player she beat 6-0 6-0 in their only previous meeting, three years ago at the U.S. Open.

Hlavackova broke the mighty Williams serve in the fifth game, but the first set was otherwise mostly one way traffic as the American unloaded some heavy groundstrokes under grey skies on a cool day on court Philippe Chatrier.

Williams, who has already bagged the Australian Open title this year, last won the title in Paris in 2013 and has reached the quarter finals or better eight times, although she crashed out in round two last year to Spaniard Garbine Muguruza.

Arch rival and defending champion Maria Sharapova, also looking for a third Paris win, awaits at the other end of the draw for a potential final.

Older sister Venus went out on Monday to fellow American Sloane Stephens.