Paris, France (SportsNetwork.com) - Simona Halep was among the early winners Sunday, as French Open play began Sunday in Paris.

Halep, this year's third seed and last year's runner-up to Maria Sharapova, battled past Evgeniya Rodina of Russia in a 7-5, 6-4 decision in the opening match at Chatrier Court.

Ninth-seeded Russian Ekaterina Rodina also advanced with a 6-4, 6-2 win over American Louisa Chirico, while other early winners were Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni and Brazil's Teliana Pereira.

Lucic-Baroni needed three sets to eliminate American Lauren Davis, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, and Pereira eased past Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro, 6-3, 6-2.

Former champion Ana Ivanovic is also slated for action on a limited Sunday schedule. The 2008 winner, seeded seventh this year, will take on Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova.