In her first grand slam match of the season and first on the terre battue at Roland Garros since losing the final to Garbine Muguruza in 2016, Serena Williams conquered her nerves and opponent in one hour and forty-seven minutes.

The former world number one and twenty-three-time grand slam champion was challenged throughout the match by the left-handed, twin sister of world #6, Karolina Pliskova.

Kristyna, with one career title, reached a career-high ranking of #35 last July but is currently ranked #72. Serena has not played a match since Miami this past March and chose to skip all clay court tournaments preceding the French Open to practice on the dirt at the Mouratoglou Academy in Nice, France.

Serena knew she would be tested even though Pliskova has failed to win a match at Roland Garros since turning professional in 2009. Like her twin sister, Kristyna possesses a formidable and reliable serve.

By the same token, Pliskova did not underestimate the 3-time French Open champion despite her current ranking of #451 since returning from maternity leave.

Both players held easily throughout the first set with the lone break point coming in the 12th game with Pliskova serving at 5-6. The twenty-six-year-old from the Czech Republic served a blistering ace up the tee to save break point and with impressive spot serving, would hold to force a tie-breaker.

Despite being up a mini-break and leading in the tie-breaker by 3-0, Pliskova would lose the breaker 4-7 following a slew of unforced errors. Serena’s winning percentage of second serve points won was sub-par at best and was lucky to secure the first set.

Pliskova held easily to open the second set and held a break point in the following game when Serena double-faulted. Williams would level at deuce following an ace only to double fault two more times and lose serve following an incredibly intense and entertaining 12-minute game.

Pliskova returned the favor in the following game, dropping serve with a double fault. Her serve would continue to wane as she double-faulted in the fifth game creating a break point opportunity which Serena converted following a forced error from Pliskova.

Although serving up a break, it was anything but smooth sailing for Williams. Pliskova created a break point with a well-placed lob and immediately converted by wrong-footing Williams with well-placed groundstrokes.

Level at 3-3 in the second, Pliskova faltered after miss-firing on the forehand to hand back the break.

With an impressive cross-court backhand winner, ace and over-head smash on consecutive points, Williams held for 5-3.

Pliskova held for 4-5 despite an over-cooked forehand and double fault. Williams was now just four points from the second round but Pliskova refused to yield.

On more than once occasion Williams lost her balance and even fell to the ground when attempting to run down a drop shot. Far from playing her A-game, Williams faced a slew of break points trying to close out this first round match.

Pliskova aided her cause by hitting several returns in the net including a second serve on match point number two. Despite hitting 15 aces - the most of any player against Serena Williams – Pliskova, at crucial moments, was too passive and Serena took full advantage.

Next up for the 2015 French Open champion, the #17 seed, Ashleigh Barty from Australia.