Top-seeded Rafael Nadal looked his usual dominant self in the first round, beating Marcos Daniel of Brazil 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 for his 29th straight win on the red clay at Roland Garros.
“At the beginning, I didn’t quite get the best feelings, but I won in three sets. That’s very positive,” Nadal said. “I should have won more easily ... but it was a difficult match.”
Roger Federer, the man Nadal beat in the last three French Open finals, had an easier time in his opening match, defeating Alberto Martin of Spain 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
Andy Roddick won a match at the French Open for the first time since 2005. The sixth-seeded American beat French wild-card entry Romain Jouan 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 Monday to reach the second round at Roland Garros.
Nadal’s win bettered the French Open record held by Bjorn Borg, who won 28 straight from 1978-81. Nadal also equaled the overall tournament record, matching the 29 straight that Chris Evert won between 1974-75 and 1979-81. Evert did not play at the French Open from 1976-78.
Nadal was broken three times by Daniel, but the top-seeded Spaniard remained perfect on the French Open’s red clay as he tries to become the first player to win five straight titles at Roland Garros.
“His backhand is better than his forehand, but I think I made it a bit easy for him,” Nadal said. “That’s my opinion.”
Federer has won 13 major titles, but he still needs to win the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.
Against Martin, who missed the last two French Open tournaments because of injury and then by failing to qualify, Federer appeared to play effortlessly.
“I didn’t have much trouble on my service games,” Federer said before leaving center court. “I mixed up my shots well to finish it off.”
Roddick quit in the first round in 2006 after losing the first two sets, was beaten in his first match in 2007, then missed last year’s French Open with an injury.
Jouan was making his Grand Slam debut and playing in only his third career tour-level match.
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Also on the men’s side, 10th-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, No. 12 Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, No. 17 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, No. 23 Robin Soderling of Sweden, No. 30 Victor Hanescu of Romania and No. 32 Paul-Henri Mathieu of France advanced.
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