Serena Williams started her latest bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title with a hard-fought victory over Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu in the first ever French Open night session on Monday. The 39-year-old, seeded seventh this year, saved two set points in a first-set tie-break before winning 7-6 (8/6), 6-2. Williams, who has lost four major finals since her last Slam success at the 2017 Australian Open, will take on Begu's compatriot Mihaela Buzarnescu in the second round. jc/dj