Paris: Past champion Ana Ivanovic of Serbia overcame an inconsistent performance in a chilly start at the French Open and held on to beat 108th-ranked Petra Martic of Croatia 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 Sunday.
The 14th-seeded Ivanovic, who won the title at Roland Garros in 2008, began the first-round match well while wearing a long-sleeved shirt with the temperature dipping to 55 degrees (13 C). But Ivanovic faltered in the second set, then had trouble closing out Martic before finally converting her fifth match point.
Martic showed she can be tough on red clay by knocking out eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli en route to reaching the fourth round at Roland Garros last year. An hour into the French Open, 2012 runner-up Sara Errani was into the second round. The tenacious Italian beat Arantxa Rus 6-1, 6-2 Sunday in the opening match on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Errani reached a Grand Slam final for the first time a year ago at Roland Garros, then lost to Maria Sharapova.
"Last year was an unbelievable tournament, the best tournament of my life," Errani said. "But I don't want to think about that. I just want to come here and play another tournament. I try to concentrate on my tennis, not too much about last year."
Now ranked a career-best No. 5, Errani dominated Rus from the baseline and won four games at love. Rus double-faulted seven times and lost her 13th consecutive match on the WTA Tour.
In men's play, No. 14 Milos Raonic hit 16 aces, won 32 points at the net and defeated Xavier Malisse, 6-2, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Malisse, ranked 56th, fell to 0-5 this year on clay.
No. 23 Kevin Anderson beat lucky loser Illya Marchenko 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
Serena Williams and Roger Federer were among others on the first day's schedule. Play began under cloudy skies with the temperature in the mid-50s (13 C).
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