Serena Williams was on court for just under an hour in defeating Benesova

Serena Williams coasted through the first round of the Paris Open with a 6-1 6-4 win over Iveta Benesova.

In her first tournament since clinching a fourth Australian Open, the American went through to meet Karolina Sprem with an assured straight-sets win.

Jelena Jankovic, recently deposed by Williams at the top of the women's rankings, had a more testing opener.

She was pressed hard throughout by Italian Francesca Schiavone, but eventually emerged with a 7-5 7-6 win.

Williams overpowered her Czech opponent from the off, winning six successive games to claim the first and establish a stranglehold on the match.

Benesova rallied in the second, but the world number one was always in control and closed out the match with a backhand winner.

"I was OK. I wasn't great, but I was so glad to win," said Williams.

"This was a little better than Australia because I didn't play well in my first two rounds there."

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"She raised her game and I made some key errors on some key points. But then I was able to get a little confidence and that's pretty much what happened," she added.

In a closely fought match Jankovic and Schiavone traded serve through the first before the Serbian finally stole a break in the 12th game.

The second set swung back and forth with two breaks apiece before Jankovic saw off a set point at 5-4 down and then went on to take the tie-break 7-2.

"She gave me a tough time and she's always a tough player to play against," Jankovic said.

"This is what I need right now, to play these matches and get my confidence back. Because when I get into my rhythm, I become really dangerous."

Elena Dementieva followed the two top seeds into the next round overcoming France's Aravane Rezai 6-4 6-3 to put her course for a meeting with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Agnieszka Radwanska recovered well from losing the first set of her match against Alisa Kleybanova to register a 6-7 6-4 6-2 win.

Sixth seed Patty Schnyder negotiated her way past Alona Bondarenko 6-4 7-6, while tournament number eight Amelie Mauresmo also advanced with a comfortable 6-2 6-0 win over Italy's Sara Errani.

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