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Stosur crushes Baltacha
Australian Samantha Stosur wasted little time in a 6-4, 6-0 first-round dismissal of Britain's Elena Baltacha as the French Open got underway in bright sun and clear skies on Sunday.
The sixth-seeded Stosur, a Roland Garros runner-up in 2010, needed just over an hour to see off the world number 68 in front of a sparce crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Stosur ran into a spot of bother when Baltacha broke back in the ninth game but she upped the pace and won the remaining seven games, ending her opponent's ordeal with a return winner.
Ivanovic storms into second round
Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 French champion, blew kisses to the crowd after making short work of Spanish qualifier Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino in her opening match.
The Serbian, seeded 13th, finished off a 59-minute 6-1, 6-1 demolition with an ace.
Del Potro advances to second round
Argentine Juan Martin del Potro survived an injury scare to book his place in the second round of the French Open with a 6-2, 6-7 6-2, 6-1 win against Spain's Albert Montanes.
The ninth-seeded Del Potro, a Roland Garros semi-finalist in 2009, received treatment on a sore left knee at the end of the second set before motoring through to prevail with a service winner on his first match point.
The 2009 US Open champion started brightly, sprinkling the court with forehand winners to open a 6-2, 4-2 lead before seizing up as claycourt specialist Montanes fought back to take the second set tiebreak 7-5.
Ferrero starts off with a win
Former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero knocked out battling local player, and Roland Garros debutant, Jonathan Dasnieres de Veigy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 in bright sunshine on the Suzanne Lenglen Court.
The 25-year-old Frenchman, cheered heartily by fans in the half-full stands, needed two bouts of treatment on his serving arm at changeovers and saved two match points before putting a forehand long on the third.
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