By CGTN's Yan Yangchen

China's Zhang Shuai is ranked 34th in the world, but with Serena Williams taking some time out to have her first child and 32nd seed Laura Siegemud pulling out of the French Open with a leg injury, the 28-year-old Tianjin native was moved up.

Zhang therefore became the only seeded player from her country, and she kicked off her tournament against Donna Vekic from Croatia.

In their three meetings before this, Zhang had won twice, but the Chinese had lost her last six matches on clay.

Zhang Shuai in first round action of French Open. /CFP Photo

A close match that initially saw Vekic take a 5-2 lead in the first set resulted in a straight sets victory for Zhang, who took the game 7-5 6-4.

Zhang Shuai celebrates after beating Vekic. /CFP Photo

Elsewhere at Roland-Garros in the women's wingles competition, Monday saw China's Zheng Saisai lose 7-5 6-2 to second seed Karolina Pliskova, while on Sunday veteran US star Venus Williams knocked out China's Wang Qiang with a 6-4 7-6.

Duan Yingying will hope to join her compatriot Zhang Shuai in the second round, as she takes on Germany's Tatjana Maria in her first round match on Tuesday.

No Chinese men qualified for the men's singles event at this year's French Open.