Serena Williams returns to clay in style to once again take up favourites mantle for French Open

Serena Williams has played only three tournaments since September and has not won a title for nine months but will still go into the French Open later this month as the clear favourite.

Playing her first competitive clay-court match of the year here, the world No 1 beat Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-4, 6-3 to earn a place in the third round against the winner of the meeting between Ana Ivanovic and Christina McHale.

There were times when Williams’ game looked distinctly rusty, but she was still too good for Friedsam, making her debut at this tournament.

The 22-year-old world No 50 did not look over-awed and did well to retrieve an early break at the start of the second set before succumbing to Williams’ power.

Williams has won the title here three times – in 2002, 2013 and 2014 – and knows that the Foro Italico is the perfect place to hone her game in readiness for Roland Garros.

Nevertheless, given her lack of matchplay in recent months it would still be a major achievement if she went on to win the French Open for the third time in four years.]

Eugenie Bouchard, who is back working with her former coach Nick Saviano, made a good start to her week by beating the former world No 1, Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

Carla Suarez Navarro, who lost to Maria Sharapova in last year’s final, beat Teliana Pereira 6-1, 7-5.

Filippo Volandri raised hopes of a memorable home victory in the men’s tournament when he took the first set off David Ferrer before the Spaniard won 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Kei Nishikori and Tomas Berdych became the first men's seeds to progress to the third round with victories over Viktor Troicki and Albert Ramos respectively.