French Open 2014: Federer, Williams and Tsonga Through as Ward Prepares for Tough First Round

Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Jo Wilfried-Tsonga are all through the first round of the French Open as day one of the 2014 tournament came to a close with expected results.

Federer defeated Lukas Lacko in 84 minutes with the Swiss star winning 39 of 44 points on his first serve to take out the game 6-2 6-4 6-2. He will now face Diego Sebastian Schwartzman in the next round as he aims to better his quarter final exit in 2013 at the hands of Tsonga.

"I think today with my experience I'm more laid back going into a tournament, going into a first round of a Grand Slam," he said, according to BBC Sport.

"I don't get too worked up about it, because I know it's a long match maybe potentially ahead of me and it's not a sprint to the finish line, it's more of a marathon."

Meanwhile Tsonga grew in confidence as his match-up against fellow Frenchman Eduouard Roger-Vasselin came to conclusion, winning 7-6(7-4) 7-5 6-2.

Serena Williams was also in action on the first day of the clay court tournament, beating Alize Lim despite making a host of mistakes during the 78 minute-long match.

Williams made 36 unforced errors but with Lim making her Grand Slam debut the American was still too strong for the inexperienced French hopeful, winning 6-2 6-1.

The two train together at Williams' partner's academy and she said she couldn't be more happy for Lim getting her first chance at one of the world's biggest tennis tournaments, even if she was convincingly beaten.

"I'm really proud of her," she said. "She's just rising in the rankings really, really well. We train in the same facilities. It's fun - we just kind of all get along."

Serena's sister Venus is also through to the next round, beating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 6-4, 6-1.

James Ward will have his chance on the court tomorrow with the Londoner facing 17<sup>th seed Tommy Robredo. He insists that despite being the underdog for the match, he is well prepared and wants to get back to his best placing of 137<sup>th.

"There's a good level of tennis up to 250 [in the rankings], a lot of the top guys have said it, and it's difficult," said Ward.

"Each week you're fighting against good players and it's no different here.

"I don't want it to stop now. I feel like I've stepped up this week, and especially ahead of the grass it's a nice time. Hopefully I can take this form forward into the next few weeks."

Andy Murray and Heather Watson start their French Open campaigns on Tuesday.