Paris, France, 23 May 2012 | Tennis Australia

Marinko Matosevic has got his qualifying campaign off to a flying start with a dominant win over Frenchman Mathieu Rodrigues at Roland Garros on Tuesday.

Matosevic, the top seed in the qualifying event, brushed aside the local 6-1 6-1 to set up a second round meeting with another Frenchman in Marc Gicquel.

The world No.89 has compiled an impressive 8-4 mark on clay in 2012, highlighted by a run to the quarterfinals of the recent ATP event in Munich as a qualifier.

He will hope to continue that form against Gicquel, a veteran of the game aged 35 and currently ranked No.179. The Frenchman was ranked as high as No.37 in September 2008 and reached the third round of the French Open in 2009.

Joining Matosevic in the second round of qualifying was Greg Jones, the Sydneysider easily accounting for Czech Jan Hernych.

The 6-1 6-4 win sets up a clash with Frenchman Kenny De Schepper, who accounted for 15th seed Antonio Veic in three sets.

Jones, a French Open junior finalist in 2007, has slipped to world No.323 because of limited activity in 2012 caused by knee tendonitis.

His first-round qualifying win in Paris was his first on clay for the year, after falling in the first round of qualifying at two claycourt Challenger events in Europe earlier in May.

Unfortunately, Aussie young guns James Duckworth and Ben Mitchell fell in their first round matches.

Duckworth, given the tough task of facing No.5 seed Daniel Brands, put up a strong fight before falling in two tight sets, 6-4 7-6(1).

Mitchell’s match extended to three sets, but in the end the 19-year-old was unable to hold off his inspired French opponent, going down 4-6 6-4 6-3.

Men’s qualifying action continues this week at Roland Garros, while the women’s event kicks off on Wednesday.