Serena Williams won her opening match at the French Open, then achieved a career breakthrough by speaking French to the crowd for the first time. “I’m a beginner,” Williams said — referring to her French, not tennis.
Her play spoke volumes Sunday. Williams returned to the red clay that tripped her up in the first round a year ago, channeled any lingering frustration into her overpowering strokes and, voila, drubbed Anna Tatishvili 6-0, 6-1.
Roger Federer, the 2009 champion, remained unbeaten in first-round matches at major tournaments since 2003 by sweeping qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. Sam Querrey, the highest-ranked American on the men’s tour, equaled his best showing at Roland Garros by reaching the second round when he beat lukas lacko 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Williams lost her opening match at a Grand Slam tournament for the only time in her career a year ago, when she was beaten by France’s Virginie Razzano. That was the most shocking in a succession of losses for Williams at Roland Garros, where she hasn’t won the title since 2002 and hasn’t reached the semifinals since 2003.
Determined to avoid another bad start, Williams won the first nine games against Tatishvili, and 30 of the first 37 points. There was no letup from there, and she was still pumping her fist and shouting “Come on!” a game from the finish.
The No. 1-ranked Williams won 56 of 78 points, including 28 of 33 on her serve, and hit eight aces. She extended her winning streak to 25 consecutive matches, and since the loss to Razzano, she’s 68-3, including championships at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Beginning her bid for a 16th Grand Slam title, Williams maintained a stern expression throughout the match, and allowed herself only a brief smile when Tatishvili pushed a forehand wide on match point.
Others advancing on a chilly, gray first day of play included Sara Errani, the 2012 runner-up to Maria Sharapova, and 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic.
American Mallory Burdette, whose ranking has climbed to a career-best 80th from 142nd at the start of the year, made a successful Roland Garros debut by beating Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-4.
Former No. 1 lleyton Hewitt lost a seesaw marathon to No. 15-seeded Gilles Simon, 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5. No. 4 David Ferrer, a semifinalist last year, eliminated Marinko Matosevic 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.