Serbia's Ana Ivanovic returns the ball to Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson during their first round match on Sunday at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. (David Vincent/Associated Press)

Two-time Grand Slam runner-up Ana Ivanovic struggled with her serve Sunday before reaching the second round on the opening day of the French Open in Paris by beating Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 7-5.

The second-ranked Ivanovic, who became the first player representing Serbia to play in a major final at last year's French Open, had six double-faults on centre court and was broken by her Swedish opponent when serving for the first set at 5-1.

"Lots of memories from last year. Today was the first match of the tournament so I was a little bit nervous," Ivanovic said. "She gave me a tough match."

In the second set, the Australian Open finalist was broken again in the third game. In her next service game, while trailing 3-1, Ivanovic saved three break points before holding. Then, after breaking Arvidsson to get to 3-3, the Serb saved two more break points.

In the final game, Ivanovic hit two forehands down the line to break Arvidsson and win the match.

"In the end it was close, but I didn't win the important points," Arvidsson said.

Ivanovic also beat Arvidsson in the first round at Roland Garros last year, winning 6-2, 6-0 on her way to the final, where she lost to Justine Henin. The Belgian is not defending her title, having announced her retirement this month.

Serena Williams, looking for her ninth Grand Slam, beat Ashley Harkleroad 6-2, 6-1.

Stephanie Dubois of Laval, Que., was eliminated in a 7-5, 6-2 loss to Selima Sfar of Tunisia.

No. 15 Nicole Vaidisova, who reached the French Open semifinals in 2006 and the quarterfinals last year, was upset by Iveta Benesova 7-6 (2), 6-1.

The 19-year-old Vaidisova reached the fourth round at the Australian Open, but she has now lost six straight matches. She double-faulted on match point to put the 70th-ranked Benesova into the second round at Roland Garros for the fourth time.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic survived a rough start to his quest for a second-straight Grand Slam title on Sunday, holding off Denis Gremelmayr 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

The Australian Open champion was broken in his first two service games on centre court and trailed 5-1 in the first set before finding some of his game in the second.

"He surprised me a little bit. He was very aggressive," said Djokovic, who reached the semifinals at Roland Garros last year.

"I wasn't really on my highest level, but hopefully I can continue on and go far."

In the third set, Djokovic started to show his frustration, throwing his racket into the red clay after Gremelmayr hit a forehand winner in the opening game.

Djokovic then took a 4-1 lead after breaking his German opponent in the fifth game of the third set. Trailing 30-15 in that game, the pair traded 28 shots before Djokovic won the point with a smash near the net.

Djokovic is trying to become the first man since Jim Courier in 1992 to win the Australian and French Opens in the same year.

No. 6 David Nalbandian and No. 7 James Blake also won. Blake's 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (3) victory over Rainer Schuettler made him the first American man to reach the second round at Roland Garros since 2006.

At last year's French Open, American men went 0-9 in the first round, with Blake losing to Ivo Karlovic.

"We all feel like, you know, last year was an aberration that should never happen again," Blake said, "and this year we're definitely looking for better results."

Blake is 9-6 on clay this year, but he struggled to beat Schuettler, who has lost in the first round at Roland Garros in seven of his nine appearances.

Blake won the first set on the first break of serve in the match, and then raced out to a 5-0 lead in the second set. In the third, Blake led 5-1 but his German opponent won five straight games to go ahead 6-5.

Three-time event champion Gustavo Kuerten bid farewell to tennis Sunday, losing 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to Paul-Henri Mathieu. The 31-year-old Kuerten has been bothered by a hip injury since 2001.

"Here, it is my life, my passion and my love," Kuerten said in French. "It's great to have my family here, my coach. But more important was the love you gave me."

Andy Murray survived a five-set marathon, winning his first match at the clay-court major in his second attempt. The 10th-seeded Briton beat wild card Jonathan Eysseric of France 6-2, 1-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.