Nadal safely through despite nervy display

RAFAEL NADAL last night insisted he always plays badly in the first round of the French Open after a straight-sets success against plucky French teenager Gianni Mina.

Four-time champion Nadal, who last year suffered his first defeat at Roland Garros in his 32nd match, did not have it all his own way against last year’s junior runner-up.

But wild card Mina’s boundless energy and enthusiasm was not enough to prevent him falling to a 6-2 6-2 6-2 defeat and handing Nadal a second-round match against Horacio Zeballos or Martin Fischer.

Earlier in the day, Andy Roddick avoided becoming the biggest men’s casualty after coming from two sets to one down to beat Jarkko Nieminen.

The American avoided a fifth first-round exit in nine appearances thanks to a 6-2 4-6 4-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 win on Philippe Chatrier Court.

Seventh seed Fernando Verdasco had no such problems disposing of Igor Kunitsyn after enjoying the extra day’s rest his Nice Open final conqueror Richard Gasquet was denied.

Gasquet was angry at being scheduled to play Andy Murray, with his request to have the contest postponed falling on deaf ears.

First-round matches were scheduled according to the draw and Verdasco was reluctant to enter into a debate on the matter after his 6-4 6-2 6-2 win.

Two more seeds fell, number 18 Sam Querrey admitting he could not wait to get home after losing 6-4 6-7 (3/7) 6-4 6-2 to fellow American Robby Ginepri.

For the Ladies, day three of the French Open was meant to be about Justine Henin’s long-awaited return to Roland Garros after ending her 18-month retirement.

But the four-time champion ended up being upstaged by a 39-year-old from Japan who had hung up her racquet for 12 years ago before resuming her career.

Kimiko Date-Krumm produced the biggest upset of the tournament so far with an extraordinary first-round victory over Dinara Safina, who had been runner-up in the tournament for the last two years.

The 3-6 6-4 7-5 win was all too much for a woman who will turn 40 before the year is out, Date-Krumm bursting into tears on Suzanne Lenglen Court following the two hour 34 minute saga.

Henin, who was barely a teenager when Date-Krumm retired, also enjoyed an emotional victory after coming through a tricky tie against Tsvetana Pironkova.

She did enough to seal a 6-4 6-3 victory in one hour 29 minutes and set up a second-round meeting with Klara Zakopalova.