PARIS, (Reuters) – Daniel Brands ensured it was no regular Monday at the office for Rafa Nadal when the Spaniard came desperately close to being shown the door after walking on to Chatrier Court to begin his hunt for an eighth French Open title yesterday.
Nadal reached the second round but his 4-6 7-6 6-4 6-3 win over the inspired German, who had never won a main-draw match at Roland Garros before, was fraught with danger as the 11-times major winner flirted with the unthinkable.
Women’s defending champion Maria Sharapova’s only concern was a late court switch, though, as the Russian completed a business like 6-2 6-1 victory over Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei.
If overwhelming men’s favourite Nadal’s struggle created the early buzz in the fan-packed walkways it was home favourite Gael Monfils’s gripping victory over fifth seed Tomas Berdych who raised the volume as the sun set over western Paris.
Showman Monfils, a semi-finalist in 2008 but way down the rankings after knee problems, thrilled an ecstatic crowd for four hours with a 7-6 6-4 6-7 6-7 7-5 victory as Berdych became the highest seed to perish so far.
Former women’s champion Li Na began with a grafting 6-3 6-4 first-round win over Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues while home fans dreaming of a first French men’s champion here since 1983 roared their approval as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga turned on the style, only to be overshadowed by Monfils’ later exploits.
Nadal had suffered only one defeat in his 53 previous matches at the French Open and was in red hot form leading into the tournament where the 26-year-old can become the first man in history to win the same grand slam eight times.
