The reigning Australian Open champion broke her opponent twice to grab the first set 6-1 but was slowed down in the second set by second-seeded Pierce, who squandered a set point and eventually conceded a 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) defeat.

The 26-year-old Frenchwoman, who won the Paris title in 2001, dropped a sole set throughout the entire tournament when she lost a tiebreak against her compatriot Tatiana Golovin.

"When I came here I was a bit out of shape after the Australian Open," Mauresmo was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"I took one game after the other and I started to play much better."

Mauresmo will next travel to Belgium as she plans to defend her title at the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp, where she is seeded second following home favorite, Kim Clijsters.

Mauresmo, who has a bye in the first round, will either face Iveta Benesova or Maria Vento-Kabchi in the second round.