Defending champion Gustavo Fernández knocked out Paralympic champion Gordon Reid ©Getty Image

Argentina's defending champion Gustavo Fernández claimed a comfortable victory over Paralympic gold medallist Gordon Reid as wheelchair tennis action began at the French Open in Paris.

The opening round clash was a repeat of last year's final, which Fernández won 7-6, 6-1.

He was in similarly good form today on the clay at Roland Garros, easing to a 6-2, 6-0 success against Britain's Reid, the Rio 2016 champion and the tournament's top seed. 

Fernández will now play France's home hope Nicolas Peifer in the semi-finals after he eased past The Netherlands' Maikel Scheffers 6-1, 6-1.

The men's second seed was also knocked out as France's Stéphane Houdet lost in three sets to Shingo Kunieda of Japan.

Shingo Kunieda was another winner on the clay in Paris ©Getty Images
Shingo Kunieda was another winner on the clay in Paris ©Getty Images

The Japanese came through 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 and will now meet Britain's Alfie Hewett.

He proved to be too strong for Sweden's Stefan Olsson thanks to a 7-6, 6-3 success.

In the women's tournament, defending champion Marjolein Buis began her defence with a 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 win over Dutch compatriot Diede de Groot.

Her reward is a semi-final meeting with Japan's second seed Yui Kamiji, a 6-2, 6-1 winner over French wildcard Charlotte Famin.

Top seed and Paralympic champion Jiske Griffioen, another Dutch player, was a casualty as she was beaten 6-7, 6-0, 6-3 by team-mate Aniek van Koot.

The prize for van Koot is a clash with Germany's Sabine Ellerbrock, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Britain's Jordanne Whiley.