PARIS - Australian Open semi-finalist Zheng Jie from China outplayed her first round opponent Ekaterina Bychkova of Russia in 7-5, 6-4 at the French Open on Tuesday.

Zheng Jie of China returns the ball to Ekaterina Bychkova of Russia during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris May 25, 2010.  [Photo/Agencies]

Zheng, 26, was broken in the first game but managed to filled it up in the 11th game. The 25th seed then took the first set by winning the following two games.

"I didn't performed well in my first match," said Zheng. "I got too many unforceful errors especially at the beginning and gave many chances to my rival."

But the two-time Grand Slam women's doubles champion shifted her tactics smoothly on the court. "At first I just played her on the baseline, but then I played high balls and the nets. I just tried to beat her in different methods."

Although Zheng injured her right thigh at the beginning of the second set, she was tough enough to break in the 10th game.

"I strained my thigh a little," Zheng explained. "I competed until last Saturday before the French Open and played both singles and doubles events. My legs were really tight especially on the clay where you need to use more muscles of your legs."

Zheng is going to pair up with Chan Yung-Jan from Chinese Taipei to begin their doubles fight as the 10th seeded duo on Wednesday. They will meet Akgul Amanmuradova from Uzbekistan and Galina Voskoboeva from Kazakhstan.

Yan Zi, who won the two Grand Slams titles together with Zheng, paired up American Bethanie Mattek-Sands to advance into the women 's second round by beating Timea Bacsinszky from Switzerland and Tathiana Garbin from Italy.