It was one of those days when things just did not quite happen for Greg Rusedski.

Not for the want of trying, however, as he varied his game and applied himself diligently, but all to no avail.

But defeat was no disgrace, as Fabrice Santoro is an accomplished player on this surface, and Rusedski made him work all the way for his 6-1 6-7 6-3 7-5 win.

"I think you need the hot weather, which we had on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday, and the centre court is slower than the outside courts."

But Rusedski was far from downbeat, and has clearly been encouraged by the turnaround in his fortunes and the way he is starting to get to grips with the clay court game.

Once again his meticulous preparation was evident - in fact he appeared to consult some notes after losing the first set - the manner of which he said "bemused" him.

But on this occasion, the big-serving Briton's hard work in the build-up did not pay off, a fact that he readily admitted.

"The only thing that was a bit disappointing was that we got the strategy a bit wrong because we thought it was going to be a bit quicker," confessed Rusedski.

On paper, Rusedski's clay court season has been another wash-out, but he feels the statistics are misleading.

"The results haven't been that good," he said.

"I've won two and lost four, but I think the quality of tennis I'm playing is better."

Certainly his two matches at Roland Garros should give him heart as he now turns his focus towards Wimbledon.