Kei Nishikori safely through to French Open second round

Kei Nishikori has overcome Paul-Henri Mathieu in straight sets to book his place in the second round of the French Open.

The fifth seed was always in control against the 33-year-old Frenchman as he eased to a 6-3 7-5 6-1 win.

After an even start to the contest, Nishikori found a breakthrough to take the first set and it was not long before he struck in the second.

Mathieu broke straight back to ensure that the Japanese did not run away with the match, but last year's US Open runner-up recovered to move closer to the last 64.

It was one-way traffic in the third as Nishikori upped the ante and, although the veteran avoided a bagel set, he could not stop his opponent from serving out the match to love.