PARIS - Rafa Nadal's campaign for a record seventh French Open title began with a straight-sets victory over outclassed Italian Simone Bolelli on Tuesday, while Maria Sharapova opened with a whitewash of Romanian Alexandra Cadantu.

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Simone Bolelli of Italy during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris May 29, 2012.[Photo/Agencies]

Nadal, defending champion and second seed, thrashed Bolelli 6-2 6-2 6-1 in just short of two hours on the sunny Philippe Chatrier court.

Playing in a shocking-pink shirt, Nadal completely dominated an error-prone Bolelli, who summed up his ordeal in three words: "Today, no chance."

Spaniard Nadal, aiming to win his 11th grand slam title, will next play Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

Sharapova, chasing the one grand slam title to elude her, beat Cadantu 6-0 6-0 in 48 minutes, taking her through to a meeting with Japan's Ayumi Morita.

"I feel like with every year I have improved and I enjoy it much more," the Russian former world number one told a news conference.

"I feel like I'm moving a lot better than I did in years previously, which has helped me a lot in the recovery process within the point."

Maria Sharapova of Russia serves to Alexandra Cadantu of Romania during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris May 29, 2012.[Photo/Agencies]