Paris: Even the Parisian storm clouds cleared for Serena Williams on Tuesday as her baby steps back to grand slam tennis turned into strides at the French Open.

Krystina Pliskova, who shared the Wimbledon winners' stage with Serena back in 2010 – the Czech was junior champion when Serena won the real thing – played her part on centre court, but there was only one star at Roland Garros during their first round clash.

Dressed in skintight, all-in-one black bodysuit, broken up by a vivid scarlet belt, Williams captivated the French crowd from the start of the contest to its 7-6 6-4 conclusion, setting up a second round clash with Australia's Ashleigh Barty.

Williams said she had put a lot of thought into her outfit.

"All the mums out there that had a tough pregnancy and have to come back and try to be fierce, in a middle of everything," she told journalist Jon Wertheim, "that's what this represents. You can't beat a cat suit, right?"