( CNN ) -- Serena Williams suffered the embarrassment of being knocked out in the opening round of a grand slam tournament for the first time in her illustrious career after defeat to Virginie Razzano at the French Open . The 13-time major champion lost an epic three-hour duel 4-6 7-6 6-3 to her unseeded French opponent , who suffered from cramp through most of the match . It was Williams ' 47th grand slam tournament and her earliest exit since sister Venus beat her in the second round of her first major -- the Australian Open in 1998 . Razzano , the world 111 , squandered seven match points in a final game that lasted over 20 minutes and was penalized twice for crying out in pain during a rally . Career girl : Maria Sharapova 's sweet plan for success . But despite being hampered by her injury she managed to close out the game , backed by a vociferous home crowd , and shrieked in delight as she recorded the biggest victory of her career . The 29-year-old lost her fiancee and coach Stephane Vidal after a long battle with cancer prior to last year 's tournament . She will now face Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus in the second round . `` I fought until the end , '' she said in a courtside interview . `` You ( the crowd ) gave me your energy . I 'm going have to rest . Thank you all for your support . '' `` I 'm disappointed , but that 's life , things could be worse , '' said Williams . `` I 've been through so much in my life . I 'm not sitting here happy . I 've got to figure out what I did wrong and not do it again . I fought until the end . '' Maria Sharapova took just 48 minutes to book her place in the second round beating Romania 's Alexandra Cadantu 6-0 6-0 . The world No.2 is seeking to complete a career slam with victory at Roland Garros -- the only major championship she is yet to win . Sharapova has only been beaten once on clay all season , in the Madrid Open final , and has taken titles in both Stuttgart and Rome leading into the tournament in Paris . And the Russian looked in merciless mood on Court Suzanne Lenglen as she set up a second round clash with Japan 's Ayumi Morita . `` Nothing is ever easy , because you have to face whoever is across the net , '' Sharapova told a press conference . `` No matter how good or bad they 're playing , you still have to win that match . That was just my goal today . `` I 'm really happy with the way my preparation has been coming into this tournament . I feel like with every year I 've improved and enjoy it much more . `` Every year I learn a lot more about the game and point construction . I feel like I 'm moving a lot better than I did years previously , which has helped me a lot in the recovery process within the point . `` All of that gives me a lot of confidence for this tournament . '' `` It 's been a solid year . I started the year off on a really good note . I was healthy . I had a pretty good off-season , I would say . I was practicing well . `` It has n't actually been as long as I 've wanted it to be because of the ankle , but I started off with really good , high energy . I was really positive , and it 's paying off . '' Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova , the No . 4 seed , also enjoyed a comfortable passage into round two . The Czech defeated 16-year-old Australian Ashleigh Barty 6-1 6-2 in just under an hour and will face Poland 's Urszula Radwanska in the next round . The 2010 champion , Francesca Schiavone of Italy , enjoyed a 6-3 6-1 victory over Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm . Britain 's Heather Watson enjoyed a 6-2 6-4 victory over Russia 's Elena Vesnina and she will now face Germany 's No . 25 seed Julia Goerges .
Serena Williams knocked out in first round of French Open by Virginie Razzano . The American will play the winner of Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka on Saturday at Roland Garros for a place in last eight against either Russian Ekaterina Makarova or German Angelique Kerber. Maria Sharapova beats Romanian Alexandra Cadantu 6-0 6-0 in just 48 minutes . Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova beats Australia 's Ashleigh Barty 6-1 6-2 .