France, May 26 -- Iga Swiatek started the defence of her French Open title on Monday with a straight sets dismissal of Rebecca Sramkova on centre court. The 23-year-old Pole won 6-3, 6-3.

"It is never easy to play the first match at the tournament," Swiatek told on-court interviewer Alize Cornet.

"Rebecca was playing with a lot of freedom and attacking well with her forehand.

"I had to stay focused and use my weapons and wait for my moment."

Swiatek, the winner of four of the past five singles titles at the Roland Garros Stadium, has failed to lift another trophy since brandishing the the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen last June on centre court in Paris.

Following her elimination in the third round at the Italian Open in Rome in May, she dism...