• French Open, Day Two

Watson wins but Keothavong falls at first hurdle

Heather Watson was a first round winner at Roland Garros © Getty Images

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French Open: Day Two - Gallery

Heather Watson gave Britain a first round winner in the women's draw at the French Open for the first time in 17 years after a magnificent straight sets victory over Stephanie Foretz Gacon, claiming a 7-6(6) 6-1 success.

Watson, a qualifier for the event, had to contend with a Court Six crowd predominantly pulling for home favourite Foretz Gacon. But she proved to have the greater steel to claim the first set in a tie-break - saving four set points, despite some double faults (which reappeared late in the next stanza) at inopportune moments - after one of the running shots of the match, before bursting into life in the second set and carrying that momentum on to a brilliant victory.

The 19-year-old came through three matches to qualify for the main draw - the first British woman in 28 years to qualify in that manner - and will now face 16th seed Kaia Kanepi in the next round, who beat Sofia Arvidsson 7-5 6-1.

However, fellow Brit Anne Keothavong passed up the chance to take on defending champion Francesca Schiavone after surrendering a position of authority to crash out of the French Open 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4 to Vesna Dolonts.

The Brit was in excellent form in the opening set and carried that into the start of the second, as she secured a break of serve to lead 2-0.

However, she failed to put in the killer burst with her opponent on the ropes and the Russian hit back to take the second set in a tiebreak.

Keothavong was broken at the start of the final set but showed her fighting skills to break back immediately.

But she did not take advantage of the openings she earned in the final set and her Russian opponent claimed victory in three hours and 21 minutes.

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki had few problems in her opening game, showing her superiority against veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm - a semi-finalist in this event in 1995 - to wrap up a 6-0 6-2 triumph in exactly an hour.

Francesca Schiavone made a fine start to the defence of her crown, overwhelming Melanie Oudin in 62 minutes.

It took Schiavone a little time to adjust to the blustery conditions, as the contest began with three breaks of serve. But the Italian soon found her range from the back of the court.

Glorious shots, with great depth and angle, were too much for Oudin who surrendered meekly 6-2 6-0 after the first set went the No. 5 seed's way in 32 minutes.

Vera Zvonareva is well fancied by many to progress deep into the tournament and the No. 3 seed eased past Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-3 6-3.

Nadia Petrova, the 26th seed, crashed out after a three-set defeat at the hands of unseeded Anastasia Rodionova. Daniela Hantuchova had no such worries, however, cruising past China's Zhang Shuai 6-3 6-3 to book her place in the next round.

Later in the day, 11th seed Marion Bartoli overcame a sloppy start to eventually ease her way past Anna Tatishvili, 1-6 6-2 6-1.

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