Hello and welcome to our first official night session at Roland Garros 2021. There’s a megastar on show too as Serena Williams kick off her latest bid for a 24th major against Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu. The player are due on Chatrier from 20:00 BST.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! - WILLIAMS 7-6 6-2 BEGU. Serena Williams may not have been anywhere near her best but she shows all her battling qualities to prevail on the first official night session in French Open history. The number seven seed serves out a tough encounter to 15 in straight sets after one hour and 42 minutes on Chatrier.

BREAK! - WILLIAMS 7-6 5-2 BEGU. There’s a slight sense of déjà vu about this. Serena breaks and it sees her take a 5-2 lead, just like in the first set. Can she serve it now and avoid the drama that ensued in that topsy-turvy opener? She’s been far from her best but is just the one game away from round two.

WILLIAMS 7-6 4-2 BEGU. Serena is finding some huge serves when under pressure and it’s usually on the deuce court. Begu refuses to budge though and corks a stunning forehand winner on the run down the line that even gets a clap from her opponent. There’s plenty of tension in the air as the game drags on until back-to-back misses from Begu help the number seven seed over the line.

WILLIAMS 7-6 3-2 BEGU. Serena just can’t find real consistency, particularly when trying to take charge of the rallies with more power and precision. Begu motors through a simple hold to 15 and remains in the hunt.

WILLIAMS 7-6 3-1 BEGU. That’s disappointing for Irina. She cranks up the heat as Serena struggles to find her first serve. The Romanian has a big chance to intensify the pressure and make deuce but slams a very make-able drive volley into the net. As a result, Serena stays in charge.

WILLIAMS 7-6 2-1 BEGU. Serena unloads a stinging crosscourt forehand to suggest she wants to get her teeth back into a game Irina is well on course to win. At 40-30 the nerves could jangle given what’s gone on in the last 10-15 minutes, but credit to the Romanian for re-focusing as she slams down a big serve to get on the board.

WILLIAMS 7-6 2-0 BEGU. That is much more like it from Serena on serve. She backs up the break with a love hold. Begu looking somewhat dismayed but don’t count her out just yet.

BREAK! - WILLIAMS 7-6 1-0 BEGU. Serena carries the TB momentum into the opener of Set 2. A superb backhand return tees up double break point and she duly converts on the second. The big question now is whether she can put a run of points together long enough to build a significant lead.

SET! - WILLIAMS 7-6 BEGU. What a celebration! Serena punches both arms in the air and turns to her support network in delight. She somehow takes the breaker 8-6, defending brilliantly with a deep lob before rushing to the net to thunder in another forehand drive volley.

TB LATEST: That’s bold! Serena stares down the barrel at 6-4 down but wriggles free of danger for now as Begu nets a tame crosscourt approach before seeing a second set point wiped out by a brave drive volley from the No.7 seed. It's 6-6 at the second change of ends.

TB LATEST: The breaker sums up the set. Serena blows hot and cold for much of it and there’s no real surprise it’s 3-3 at the change of ends.

BREAK! - WILLIAMS 6-6 BEGU. That’s typical grit from Serena. She refuses to cough up the set and battles hard to earn the break back opportunities. One goes begging when she cracks a shot into the net but she is soon shouting in delight when Begu slaps a forehand into the tramlines on the second. Time for a tie break!

BREAK! - WILLIAMS 5-6 BEGU. What a turnaround! That’s four games in a row for the world number 74 as she converts on the first of two break points with a driven forehand that is just too hot for Serena to handle. The three-time French Open champion is suddenly in a bit of danger here.

More fall-out from the Osaka withdrawal sees the French Tennis Federation make a statement.

WILLIAMS 5-5 BEGU. Yet more frustration for Serena. Begu manages to turn a 0-30 situation around and is then under major pressure at deuce, but Williams can only slam a forehand attempt up the line into the net. It’s a let off for the Romanian and she takes full of advantage to level on the next point.

BREAK! - WILLIAMS 5-4 BEGU. That’s a look of real dismay. Serena just hasn’t been able to get comfortable for more than a few rallies. Begu’s getting good length and angles on her shots and making life difficult for the former world number one. The American doesn’t come close to a set point as Begu dominates and deservedly breaks back.