World number ones Rafael Nadal and Dinara Safina dazzled their opponents in the Parisian sun this morning (NZ time) to advance into the second round of the French Open.
Brazil's Marcos Daniel fought valiantly for almost 2-1/2 hours before becoming Nadal's latest victim at the claycourt grand slam, going down 7-5 6-4 6-3.
The Roland Garros crowd also caught a brief glimpse of Safina as the Russian whitewashed Britain's Anne Keothavong 6-0 6-0.
Former champ Roger Federer wasn't bothered as he moved into the last 64 with a 6-4 6-3 6-2 victory over plodding Spaniard Alberto Martin.
On the women's side, Venus Williams also progressed, although she lost her way temporarily in the second set of her match against fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
The third-seeded Williams, who owns seven singles grand slam trophies but has never triumphed at Roland Garros, won 6-1 4-6 6-2. She will next face Czech Lucie Safarova.
And the "shrieker" is back, too.
Maria Sharapova began her rehabilitation into the top echelons of women's tennis with a 3-6 6-1 6-2 victory over Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus.
Twelve months after competing in Paris as the world number one, the Russian is on a comeback trail, with many interested onlookers. She is currently ranked just 102 in the draw, following a nine-month layoff with a career-threatening shoulder injury.
- AGENCIES
Tennis: Top stars through in blazing Paris heat
Pretty in pink: Rafael Nadal cruises into round two at Roland Garros. Photo / AP
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