PARIS, May 29 (UPI) -- Former world No. 1s Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams were among Monday's first-round winners at the 2006 French Open.
The second-seeded, two-time runner-up Clijsters defeated Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano, 6-0, 7-6 (7-4). The Belgian advanced in 1 hour, 14 minutes, despite piling up 32 unforced errors amid chilly and windy conditions.
Clijsters, reigning U.S. Open champion, was the French Open runner-up in 2001 and 2003. She's appeared in five career Grand Slam finals, going 1-4.
She will play Spaniard Conchita Martinez Granados in the round of 64.
Williams defeated Sybille Bammer, 6-4, 6-3. A five-time Grand Slam champion, Williams was the 2002 French Open runner-up to her younger sister Serena, who is injured and not playing in the Open this year.
Up next for the 2005 Wimbledon titlist Williams, will be Finland's Emma Laine.
