Serena Williams survived a first-round scare at the French Open on Monday as she battled back from a set down to defeat Russian world number 83 Vitalia Diatchenko, while Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic both eased through.

The 37-year-old Williams, who is attempting to equal Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles, racked up her 800th career main draw win with her 2-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory in front of a half-full Court Philippe Chatrier.

Nadal started his bid for a record-extending 12th men's Roland Garros title with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 win over German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, before world number one Djokovic saw off Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets.

This was only Williams' fifth match since collapsing to defeat late on against Karolina Pliskova in the Australian Open quarter-finals earlier this year, but she showed excellent form in the second and third sets in Paris.

"I just got nervous out there and I stopped moving my feet. And I was, like... 'You gotta do something'," said the 10th seed, who has not won a major title since the 2017 Australian Open.

"But compared to other matches, I'm always a little nervous in Grand Slams, especially in the first round."

Nadal, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, set up a clash with another German qualifier -- world number 114 Yannick Maden -- in round two. The 32-year-old Nadal raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening set before a second break of serve in the eighth game sealed it after just 40 minutes.

Djokovic laid down an early marker in his bid to hold all four Grand Slam titles simultaneously for the second time, powering past Polish youngster Hubert Hurkacz.

The 15-time major champion impressed in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 triumph and will face Swiss lucky loser Henri Laaksonen in round two.