Li Na hits a forehand. Photo: CFP

China's French Open champion Li Na began her Australian Open campaign with a straight-set victory over Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan Monday.

Fifth seed Li, who is last year's runner-up in Melbourne, overcame a slow start in blistering conditions to outpace Pervak 6-3, 6-1 and will face Olivia Rogowska of Australia in the second round.

China's Peng Shuai, seeded 16, also progressed after seeing off the challenge of France's Aravane Rezai 6-3, 6-4.

Li, who suffered a dip in form following her historic French Open success, headed into this year's first Grand Slam opening match on a runner-up finish in the Sydney International on Friday, losing to world No.3 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

"My life changed a lot after the French Open. I did a lot of things out of tennis, so I didn't play well, but now I think I'm back," Li said after the match.

As to her tough draw that include potential matchup against defending champion Kim Clijsters on the way to quarterfinals, Li said she needed to play step by step.

"I passed the first round now. I have to pass second round, third round and then I can have the chance to face them," said Li who also joked that she has no trouble with her husband and coach Jiang Shan's snoring this year.

The 20-year-old Pervak got off to a confident start to hold her serves in the first set before Li broke first to lead 4-2. Despite staving off four break points in the eighth game, the world No.40 found no answers to Li's powerful first serve as Li pulled off the first set.

The 29-year-old Chinese star got into her groove in the second set, during which her angled drives sent the left-hander all over the court to open up a 5-1 lead.

The out-of-breath Pervak was pushed to her limits and was unable to keep pace with Li who sealed the match with a backhand winner. Li hit a total of 16 winners but also had 24 unforced errors.