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Paris - Seventh seed Maria Sharapova has encountered little resistance as she reached the second round of the French Open on Monday with a 6-1, 6-2 win over fellow Russian Ksenia Pervak.
"It's always nice to get through. First matches at Grand Slams are always tough, no matter how prepared you are, no matter how many matches you've played," said Sharapova after completing her match just before rain halted play.
The 27-year-old needed only 27 minutes to wrap up the opening set as qualifier Pervak, the world number 156, was broken in all three of her service games.
Sharapova, who has won all four Grand Slams including the French Open in 2012, rode a strong first serve throughout the match and pinned her opponent to the baseline with deep ground strokes.
She will now face Bulgaria's 2010 Wimbledon semi-finalist Tsvetana Pironkova for a place in the third round.
"There is always a bit more tension in that type of Grand Slam atmosphere.
"It's certainly more special, especially when you walk out on court. Considering all that, I thought I played a solid match, did the things I had to do. It's only the beginning right now.
The Florida resident, who lost last year's final against Serena Williams, looked comfortable under cloudy conditions on the Philippe Chatrier court as she broke her opponent five times in total.
Sharapova stays on course to face Williams, who won her opening match in straight sets on Sunday, in the quarter-finals.
When asked about the atmosphere at Roland Garros and the Grand Slam environment, Sharapova said the players thrive on the buzz.
"I think we all feel a difference once we step into the Grand Slam grounds.
"And to play in the stadiums of the Grand Slams there is something so special about them to know how many former champions have walked through that door to get on that court.
"It's just something different in the air.
Looking ahead to potential blockbuster against Williams, the former world number one remained coy.
"It's tough to think about that match down the line where you have to compete in three matches before that. Obviously it's a match that many people always look forward to when we play against each other.
"There is only one champion at a tournament. So it's not really about when you face somebody. It's about who comes through.
"Right now it's not my concern, because the next match I'm playing is against (Tsvetana) Pironkova.
Pervak, who has also represented Kazakhstan, has never been past the first round at Roland Garros.
Results on Monday at the French Open, the second day of the season's second Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros (x denotes seeded player):
Men
First round:
Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Robby Ginepri (USA) 6-0, 6-3, 6-0
Dominic Thiem (AUT) bt Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) bt James Duckworth (AUS) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2)
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) bt Vasek Pospisil (CAN x30) 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
Guillermo Garca-Lpez (ESP) bt Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) bt Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE) 6-2, 6-1, 6-1
Donald Young (USA) bt Dudi Sela (ISR) 6-1, 2-6, 6-1, 6-0
Feliciano Lopez (ESP x26) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-3, 7-6 (10/8), 6-3
Thomaz Belluci (BRA) bt Benjamin Becker (GER) 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2
Fabio Fognini (ITA x14) bt Andreas Beck (GER) 6-4, 6-4, 6-1
Benot Paire (FRA) bt Alejandro Falla (COL) 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)
Roberto Bautista (ESP x27) bt Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) 6-3, 7-5, 6-2
Tommy Robredo (ESP x17) bt James Ward (GBR) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4
Kenny De Schepper (FRA) bt Albert Montas (ESP) 3-1 - retired (ankle)
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) bt Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-4
Facundo Bagnis (ARG) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-1, 6-2, 1-6, 3-6, 18-16
Ernests Gulbis (LAT x18) bt Lukasz Kubot (POL) 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-1
Jir Vesel (CZE) bt Luks Rosol (CZE) 6-2, 7-6 (8/6), 7-5
Alejandro Gonzlez (COL) bt Michael Russell (USA) 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-1
Gilles Simon (FRA x29) bt Ante Pavic (CRO) 6-1, 6-1, 6-3
Marcel Granollers (ESP) bt Ivan Dodig (CRO) 2-2 - retired (shoulder)
Robin Haase (NED) bt Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 7-5, 6-4, 6-2
Martin Klizan (SVK) bt Kei Nishikori (JPN x9) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-2
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) bt David Goffin (BEL) 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
Marin Cilic (CRO x25) bt Pablo Andjar (ESP) 6-0, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6)
Tobias Kamke (GER) bt Miloslav Mecr (SVK) 7-5, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/1)
Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
Women:
First round
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) bt Roberta Vinci (ITA x17) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) bt Lauren Davis (USA) 3-6, 7-5, 6-4
Mona Barthel (GER) bt Karin Knapp (ITA) 6-4, 6-0
Sabine Lisicki (GER x16) bt Fiona Ferro (FRA) 6-1, 7-5
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x9) bt Virginie Razzano (FRA) 7-5, 6-0
Tamira Paszek (AUT) bt Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 6-2, 7-6 (7/5)
Samantha Stosur (AUS x19) bt Mnica Puig (PUR) 6-1, 6-1
Paula Ormaechea (ARG) bt Romina Oprandi (SUI) 7-5, 6-2
Maria Sharapova (RUS x7) bt Ksenia Pervak (RUS) 6-1, 6-2
Karolna Plskov (CZE) bt Mathilde Johansson (FRA) 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Elena Vesnina (RUS x32) bt Christina McHale (USA) 7-6 (7/0), 4-6, 6-3
Alize Cornet (FRA x20) bt Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 6-2, 6-1
Taylor Townsend (USA) bt Vania King (USA) 7-5, 6-1
Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) bt Maryna Zanevska (UKR) 6-1, 6-4
Flavia Pennetta (ITA x12) bt Patricia Mayr (AUT) 6-2, 6-2
Julia Grges (GER) bt Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) 6-2, 6-3
Eugnie Bouchard (CAN x18) bt Shahar Peer (ISR) 6-0, 6-2
Petra Kvitova (CZE x5) bt Zarina Diyas (KAZ) 7-5, 6-2
Marina Erakovic (NZL) bt Nadiya Kichenok (UKR) 6-2, 6-1
Kurumi Nara (JPN) bt Anna Tatishvili (USA) 6-1, 6-4
Andrea Petkovic (GER x28) bt Misaki Doi (JPN) 6-3, 6-3
Stefanie Vgele (SUI) bt Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER) 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-2
