Hingis off and running at Roland Garros

Martina Hingis swept past American Lisa Raymond in straight sets to progress to the French Open second round, five years after her last appearance in Paris.

The 25-year-old Swiss needed just 54 minutes to win 6-2 6-2 on the Philippe Chatrier centre court.

Five months after ending her three-year retirement and returning to the circuit, Hingis, seeded 12th at Roland Garros, is already ranked 15th in the world and appears to be one of the serious contenders to lift the much-coveted trophy on June 10.

Hingis, who reached the Australian Open quarter-finals in January, won the clay-court event in Rome just over a week ago.

That marked her first title triumph since coming out of retirement.

The French Open is the only Grand Slam she has never won.