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.