New Zealand tennis players Michael Venus and Marcus Daniell have made winning starts with their respective partners to their French Open men's doubles campaign to move into the second round in Paris.
Venus and his Australian partner John Peers - who are seeded 10th in the doubles draw - have come back from losing the first set to secure their place in the round of 32 with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over French wildcards Antoine Hoang and Benjamin Bonzi 4-6 6-2 6-4.
Venus and Peers got up an early break in the first set, but the Australian dropped serve twice as the French pair claimed the opening set.
The trans-Tasman pair - who are playing their final tournament together before splitting up as a team - rebounded strongly to claim the second and third sets.
The pair's first round performance was highlighted by strong serving - six aces - and were clinical on break points, converting four of their five opportunities.
Daniell and his Austrian partner Philipp Oswald advanced to the next round with a 6-3 6-3 win over Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics and Italy’s Stefano Travaglia.
Games went with serve until the 8th game of the opening set where Fucsovics was broken to see Oswald serve out the first set.
Travaglia was broken in his second service game of the second set and after games went with serve until 5-3, where the Italian was broken again as Daniell and Oswald completed the win.
Daniell and Oswald were strong on serve, not giving their opponents any break points while winning 76 percent of their first serves.
The Kiwi and Austrian pair created 10 break point chances and converted three of them to book their spot in the last 32.
Daniell is back on court on Friday night for their second round match against Frenchman Benoit Paire and Monaco’s Romain Arneodo.
Venus is also in action on Friday against the German Jan-Lennard Struff and Dutchman Robin Hasse for a place in the third round.
