Dokic was always going to struggle against the dual Grand Slam winner but put up a gritty display, going down 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-5) in encouraging style as she embarks on an international comeback.

The Australian reeled off two trademark winners in the second set tiebreak before Mauresmo cashed in on her first match point to advance.

Dokic battled back from 5-3 down in the second set to force another tiebreak but the Frenchwoman, ranked 23 in the world, held her nerve to win 7-5 and progress to the second round.

“I’m both really happy and really disappointed. Honestly, it was a lot closer that I thought it would be, so that’s a positive I can take out of it. I played two tight sets with someone who is 23 in the world,” Dokic said.

“I had my chances. I think if I won that first set, the match would have been completely different. That first set was really difficult mentally. She came out with the better points at the right time. It was really just a lack of matches for me. And a lack of matches at this level.

“I played a couple of loose points in both tiebreaks that shouldn’t of happened. She really didn’t give me any free points in that crucial moment and that’s why I lost.”

The draw was a difficult one for Dokic but the path to the title is equally as arduous for Mauresmo, who could face top seed and world number five Ana Ivanovic in the quarter finals if results go according to script.

Ivanovic makes her eagerly awaited debut tonight on centre court, with the Serbian facing off against Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.