Stephens victorious on Day 1 of French Open

Sloane Stephens came within a handful of points of winning the 2018 French Open. This year, she's hoping to go one better.

The No. 7 seed beat Misaki Doi of Japan, 6-3, 7-6, on Day 1 in Paris, as she began her quest for a second Grand Slam women's singles title.

Stephens (pictured above) converted four of seven break points and won 70 percent of the points on her serve to see off a determined effort from the world No. 110.  

The American broke at 2-2 in the opening set to establish a 3-2 lead, and she broke Doi again at 3-5 on her fourth set point, as the Japanese fought to stay in the match. 

Stephens raced out to a 4-2 lead in the second set and appeared well on her way to cruising into the second round. But the left-hander broke the 2017 US Open champion in consecutive games to move ahead 5-4.

Stephens responded with a break of her own, as Doi tried to send the opening-round contest to a deciding set, and it was the American who carried the momentum into the tiebreak. Stephens led 4-1 and 5-2 in the breaker, finally converting on her third mach point to book her spot in the Round of 64, where she'll play Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain. 

Elsewhere on Day 1 in the French capital, the U.S. players in action did not fare quite as well. 

Madison Brengle fell to No. 2 seed Karolina Pliskova, 6-2, 6-3, inside Court Philippe-Chatrier, and American qualifier Bernarda Pera, who narrowly missed out on direct entry into the tournament, saved two match points against world No. 66 Kateryna Kozlova on Court 6, before ultimately succumbing, 6-2, 7-6.

Seven-time Slam winner Venus Williams lost to Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, 6-3, 6-3, on Court Simonne-Mathieu in 73 minutes. It marks the first time in the sure-fire Hall of Famer's career that she lost in the first round of the same Slam in back-to-back years. 

And Taylor Townsend gave No. 19 seed Garbiñe Muguruza a scare, winning the opening set before eventually dropping a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 decision.

Townsend recorded more winners (28) than unforced errors (23), but the Spaniard was equally efficient with 37 winners to 29 miscues. The biggest difference, especially in the final two sets, was at the net, where 2016 French Open champion Muguruza won 25 of 32 points.

Jennifer Brady will finish her match against Ivana Jorovic Monday after that contest was suspended for the evening with the match tied at one set all. 

Day 2 in Paris sees 15 Americans in action, headlined by 23-time women's Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams and top U.S. men's seed Frances Tiafoe. 

Three-time French Open winner Williams faces Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia, while No. 32 seed Frances Tiafoe opens against Filip Krajinovic of Serbia.

In the women's draw, Jessica Pegula meets No. 8 seed Ashleigh Barty of Australia, qualifier Varvara Lepchenko plays Shuai Zhang of China and Sofia Kenin plays qualifier Giulia Gatto-Monticone of Italy. 

Shelby Rogers returns to Grand Slam action against Astra Sharma of Australia. And in a pair of battles pitting Americans against Germans, Danielle Collins starts against Tatjana Maria, and Alison Riske plays Andrea Petkovic. 

On the men's side, qualifier Tennys Sandgren plays Radu Albot of Moldova, Bradley Klahn plays No. 21 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, Reilly Opelka plays Cristian Garin of Chile, and Denis Kudla plays Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia.

The men's and women's winners of the USTA French Open Wild Card Challenge will also be in action. Tommy Paul plays No. 4 seed Dominic Thiem of Austria, and Lauren Davis plays Kristyna Pliskova of the Czech Republic. 

Sam Querrey announced Sunday he was forced to withdraw from the tournament, citing an abdominal injury.