BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhuanet) --  China’s Li Na has begun her chase of a second French Open title on the clay of Roland Garros. Li, taking on Anabel Medina Garrigues from in the first round of the French Open on Monday. The sixth seed was looking to prove her ability again at a Grand Slam after losing in the Australian Open final to Victoria Azarenka earlier this year and the Chinese, wouldn’t dissapoint on day one.

Li though had only won once in her four previous meetings with the Spaniard. Li did though, dominate the first set opening up a 4-love lead. Li, relying on a series of booming forehand winners to build up her advantage. The Chinese at her aggressive best as she kept Medina Garrigues pasted to her baseline.

The resilient Medina Garrigues threatened a comeback though...by breaking back twice, but with another forehand winner, Li wrapped up the first set 6-3 to put herself in the driver’s seat.

In set two though...Medina Garriguez opened up a 2-love lead but could not capitalise on her advantage as Li roared back to win four games in a row.

Medina Garrigues showed some heart though levelling to make it 4-4 before dropping serve in the ninth game. Li, with a chance to seal it in straight sets on serve...got her job to move on to round two 6-3, 6-4. The Chinese will face American Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the second round.

Key matches to come later on Monday...include Tomas Berdych taking on Gael Monfils. Ukraine’s Sergly Stakhovsky up against Richard Gasquet. The match between defending champ Rafa Nadal and Daniel Brands is now underway this one, interesting and we’ll get to that in a moment. On the women’s side, Maria Sharapova begins her title defence with a battle against Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei in the first round.

(Source: CNTV.cn)