Strong start from Stosur

Last year’s runner-up Samantha Stosur began her French Open campaign in impressive fashion with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Iveta Benesova this afternoon.

The eighth seed, beaten by Francesca Schiavone in the final 12 months ago, opened proceedings at this year’s tournament on Court Philippe Chatrier and needed only an hour and eight minutes to breeze into round two.

Benesova looked like she might pose the Australian a real test when she broke in the opening game but Stosur responded with four games in a row and did not look back.

The 27-year-old has one of the best serves in the women’s game and her Czech opponent simply had no answer, with a single break in the sixth game of the second set proving more than enough.

In the second round Stosur will face Romania’s Simona Halep, who thrashed Alla Kudryavtseva 6-2 6-1, while Gisela Dulko of Argentina was a 6-3 6-4 winner over Irina Falconi.