• French Open, Day One

Imperious Williams dismisses Tatishvili

Serena Williams put in a relentless performance to dismiss Anna Tatishvila © AP

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Serena Williams suffered no repeat of her 2012 Roland Garros first-round exit, dropping only one game in a commanding 6-0 6-1 victory over Anna Tatishvili.

Williams looked imperious in the early stages on Court Philippe Chatrier, racing into a three-love lead in just eight minutes after establishing the first break of serve.

The world No. 1, who suffered her only ever first-round defeat in a grand slam when losing to Virginie Razzino in Paris in 2012, soon completed the double-break with a string of powerful groundstrokes.

Tatishvili simply could not deal with Williams' movement and was not given a chance by the 2002 champion to find any sort of rhythm. Williams, who has enjoyed a perfect start to her clay-court season, continued to push the Georgian wide and another strong backhand return set up the first of three set points.

The reigning Wimbledon singles champion only needed one, as Tatishvili served her third double-fault to confirm a first-set bagel.

Williams started the second in similarly devastating fashion, breaking her world No. 74 opponent either side of holding the serve. However, Tatishvili finally stopped the rot in the tenth game with a defence of her serve, but by then the damage had long been done as Williams continued to dominate on the forehand.

However, it wasn't all power from the American as she teased a drop shot over the net to give herself another break point. Tatishivili did well to save following a forced error, before repeating her efforts after a stunning rally which Williams had ended with a vicious backhand.

The efforts came in vain, though, as Tatishivili succumbed once more to leave Williams serving for the match. Victory was complete in under the hour mark when Tatishvili grounded her forehand return wide of the tram-line, Williams burying the ghost of 2012 and booking her place in the second round.

Older sister Venus Williams could not follow in Serena's footsteps as she was beaten 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-4 by Urszula Radwanska, while former Wimbledon semi-finalist Sabine Lisicki beat Sofia Arvidsson 6-3 6-4.

Elsewhere, fifth seed Sara Errani made light work of Arantxa Rus; the Italian dropped only three games in her 6-1 6-2 victory while Ana Ivanovic was taken to a decider by Petra Martic. However, the Serb proved too strong and came out 6-1 3-6 6-3 winner to advance to the second round.

Puerto Rican qualifier Monica Quig claimed the first upset of the tournament, coming from a set behind to beat eleventh seed Nadia Petrova 3-6 7-5 6-4 on Court Two.

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