French Open Day 1: Roger Federer, Serena Williams advance easily

Roger Federer

Paris, May 26 (IANS) Fourth seed Roger Federer advanced to the second round of the French Open with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Lukas Lacko Sunday.

On a court made hard and damp by days of rain and overcast skies, Federer played an efficient game to win five of his 11 break points.

"I am happy I got off to a good start for the tournament here in Paris. I was happy seeing, getting early signs out of the match that I was actually playing well and I was going to get my chances I was looking for," Federer said.

"I wasn't nervous actually going into the match. It's more just like those hints of fear, maybe yesterday, maybe this morning at one point, just for like five seconds, 'Oh, I really hope I don't have to pack my bags today.’That kind of feeling."

Eighth-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada also advanced after beating Nick Kyrgios of Australia 6-3, 7-6 (1), 6-3.

Raonic was delighted with his performance.

"I was able to do the things I wanted to do. Sort of the first round you go in not knowing exactly how things are going to play out, and I was able to, when it mattered, put forward the right attitude and the right level of tennis," Raonic said.

The others who advanced on Sunday include Tomas Berdych, Mikhail Youzhny and Radek Stepanek.

At the women's draw, Serena Williams beat 138th-ranked Alize Lim of France 6-2, 6-1 to begin her title defence.

Williams wound up the match with 30 more winners and 24 more unforced errors than Lim.

Things looked shaky for the American as she served out the final game, erasing four break points and needing five match points to close things. Williams saved all seven break points she faced in the match.

Third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska beat Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-0 to reach the next round.

They traded breaks in the opening seven games of their match, but the third-seeded Pole finally held her serve,and won the final nine games to become the first player to reach the second round at this year’s French Open.

"So many breaks in a row," said Radwanska, who blamed an overcast day at Roland Garros for her struggles on the wet court.

Venus Williams, Carla Suarez Navarro and Daniela Hantuchova also advanced to the next round.