Novak Djokovic began his pursuit of a first French Open title with a straight sets victory over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.

Djokovic has eight grand slam victories to his name but success at Roland Garros has so far eluded the Serb, who has lost only two matches in 2015.

Nieminen never looked like adding to that tally, despite coming close to taking the second set, as Djokovic sealed a 6-2 7-5 6-2 win in two hours and three minutes.

Two finals in three years are testament to Djokovic’s capabilities on clay but it is his irrepressible form this year, combined with Rafael Nadal’s indifferent results, that makes the world number one an even greater threat this time around.

Unbeaten now in 23 matches, Djokovic was rarely stretched to his limits by Nieminen but when the Finn served for the second set at 5-3, he revealed the sort of fight and persistence that makes him so difficult to beat.

The first set was far more straightforward as Djokovic caught his opponent cold, breaking serve in the opening game and capitalising on a number of unforced errors to go one set clear.

Nieminen, however, loosened up in the second and, perhaps enjoying the freedom to attack, unleashed a superb backhand pass to break in the fourth game and then serve for the set.

Djokovic flicked into gear, lengthening his ground-shots and tightening his defence, and Nieminen was unable to cope as the Serb won five games in a row to take the second set and a break immediately in the third.

Nieminen played his part in a handful of entertaining exchanges in the latter stages, but another break of serve allowed Djokovic to move into round two, where he will face either Luxembourg's Gilles Muller or Italian Paolo Lorenzi.