Venus Williams seals progress at French Open

Venus Williams has powered into the second round of the French Open with a straight-sets win over Switzerland's Belinda Bencic.

Both players struggled to hold serve during a cagey opening set, but it was the American who secured a vital break late on to close it out 6-4.

The 29th seed then showed her ruthless streak in the second as she raced into a 4-0 lead before sealing her progress 6-1.

The 2002 finalist will now face Slovakia's Anna Schmiedlova for a place in the third round at Roland Garros.