Berdych off to flying start
Title dark horse Tomas Berdych got his French Open bid off to a flying start on Monday.
The seventh seed, rated by many as the man most likely to challenge the 'Big Three' at Roland Garros, steam-rollered Dudi Sela in his first-round match.
The big-hitting Czech triumphed 6-3 6-4 6-1 as he moved comfortably into round two.
Berdych, who recently made the final on clay in Madrid before losing narrowly to Roger Federer, cracked 30 winners as he got his big forehand firing well.
Two of the game's rising stars, Milos Raonic and Bernard Tomic, were also convincing straight-sets winners.
Canadian Raonic, another to push Federer all the way in Madrid, held serve throughout his 6-4 6-2 6-2 win over Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, while Tomic saw off Andreas Haider-Maurer 7-5 (7/5) 6-3 6-3.
Another youngster, American Ryan Harrison, could not progress though.
Up against Gilles Simon, one of the host nation's best hopes of ending a 29-year wait for the men's title, Harrison won the first set but blew a lead in the second before losing in four.
Michael Llodra, Arnaud Clement, Florent Serra and Paul-Henri Mathieu were other French winners on Monday.