PARIS, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Serena Williams was bundled out of the French Open after she suffered the worst Grand Slam defeat of her career on Tuesday.
The favorite for the women's singles title slumped to a dramatic and thrilling 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 loss to France's world 111 Virginie Razzano in the first round.
It was the 13-time Grand Slam winner's first ever exit at the opening round stage of her 47-event Grand Slam career and her earliest loss at a major since she was knocked out of the Australian Open second round by sister Venus in 1998.
The fifth-seeded Williams was two points from victory nine times in the second set, including leading 5-1 in the tiebreaker. But Razzano won six straight points to force a third set, and then took control of the match.
I made so many errors today, which isn't the game I was playing in the past, Williams said. That's life.
Williams entered the day with a 46-0 record in first-round matches at Grand Slam tournaments. She had been looking for her 14th major title, and second at Roland Garros.
Men's second seed Rafael Nadal, in pursuit of a record seventh crown at French Open, powered into the second round with a 6-2, 6- 2, 6-1 win over Italian journeyman Simone Bolelli.
Despite dropping his service once midway through the second set on the Philippe Chatrier showcourt, Nadal won comfortably in one hour and 58 minutes to book a meeting with Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, who whipped Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.
Nadal, beaten only once in his entire career at Roland Garros as he attempts to go beat the record of Bjorn Borg's six titles, said he was less stressed than last year.
Today I was more relaxed, he said. I was a bit frightened, but I think I took control. I felt comfortable.
It's a court that's not easy to play on, but the longer you stay on the court, the better it is. You can find your feet, he said
Fourth seed Andy Murray had little trouble moving through the first round after beating Roland Garros debutant Tatsuma Ito 6-1, 7-5, 6-0.
Murray, who reached the semifinals here last year where he lost to eventual winner Rafa Nadal, served well and never gave his Japanese opponent a chance.
As Ito tired, Murray won the fifth game of the final set to love then produced a winning serve to seal the sixth game and finish the match in one hour 35 minutes.
Maria Sharapova showed daunting form as she dispatched Romanian Alexandra Cadantu 6-0, 6-0 in the first round.
The relentless second seed from Russia crushed the world No.78 in 48 minutes with a flurry of blistering winners.
Women's fourth seed Petra Kvitova advanced by beating junior Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty 6-1, 6-2.
Kvitova lost the opening game in her match against the 16-year- old Barty, but then won six straight in the first set and again raced through the second set despite being broken once.
The oldest player in the draw, 41-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan, lost to 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-3, 6-1.??