Ernests Gulbis has recorded a morale-boosting win over Igor Sijsling in the French Open first round.

Last year's semi-finalist has struggled for form this year, but he produced a solid display to run out a 6-4 6-4 7-6 winner.

Gulbis has fallen down to number 25 in the world rankings after winning just twice in 2015, but his lack of confidence was not on show as he took the opening set with a single break of serve.

The Latvian, who could count Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych among his victims at last year's tournament, did the same in the second as he edged nearer the last 64.

Sijsling, the world number 166, showed some life in the third to take the set into a tie-break, but Gulbis held firm to book his place in the next round.