FRENCH OPEN
Venue: Roland Garros Date: 24 May - 7 June
Coverage: Live on BBC Red Button, live streaming and daily text commentary on BBC Sport website, updates on BBC Radio 5 Live plus second week commentary on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra. TV coverage on Eurosport.
Highlights - Daniel tests Nadal in first round Defending champion Rafael Nadal saw off a spirited challenge from Brazil's Marcos Daniel to reach round two of the French Open with a 7-5 6-4 6-3 win. Daniel matched Nadal stride for stride before the world number one broke at 5-5 and served out the first set. Nadal found it difficult to shake off his 97th-ranked opponent but edged the second set and eased through the third. Roger Federer was next on Court Philippe Chatrier and he eased past Spain's Albert Martin 6-4 6-3 6-2. Sixth seed Andy Roddick won a match at the French Open for the first time since 2005, serving impressively as he swept past France's Romain Jouan 6-2 6-4 6-2. And in two late thrillers, Italy's Simone Bolelli beat 19th seed Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-4 5-7 4-6 6-3, and 28th seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain saw off Franco Ferreiro 6-7 (3-7) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 6-2. Nadal's victory extends his unbeaten run at Roland Garros to 29 matches, and his quest to claim an unprecedented fifth successive French Open title remains on track.  | I wasn't at my best level but it's been like that for the last four years (in the first round) and I've won in three sets, so that's a positive |
He passes the record of 28 straight wins set by Bjorn Borg between 1978-81, and equals the overall tournament record set by Chris Evert. The 22-year-old Spaniard, who arrived in Paris having lost his 33-match winning streak on clay to Roger Federer in Madrid, did not appear to be moving as well as he usually does on the red dirt and he was given a thorough workout by Daniel. Nadal created the first break point of the match in the third game but Daniel pulled out a big serve to see off the threat. The 30-year-old was attacking his more illustrious opponent with some fierce winners and deft touches but he was finally broken in the ninth game. Rather than going on to take the set, Nadal was broken back immediately - but it was a different story two games later as Nadal cemented his advantage at the second time of asking. The six-time Grand Slam winner was not his usual sprightly self and faced break points in the fourth game of the second set. Daniel finally prevailed on his fourth opening to take a 3-1 lead, which he promptly relinquished as Nadal showed his fighting spirit. Going behind seemed to have fired up Nadal and he made it three games in a row with a break to love before wrapping up the set. Daniel, by now, seemed resigned to his fate and he was broken again at the start of the third set. | 606: DEBATE |
Nadal, wearing a bright pink shirt, had been on the back foot for much of the first half of the match but at last he took the initiative and Daniel could not deal with the precision of the Spaniard's forehand. The Brazilian managed one last hurrah as he broke Nadal when serving for the match but he let slip three points to pull the match back to 4-5 and a volley that drifted wide sealed his fate. "It was difficult," said Nadal. "I was expecting a hard-fought match but I obviously wasn't at my best level. "But it's been like that for the last four years (in the first round). And I have won in three sets, that's a positive. "I started to play better in the third set and I hope to continue improving in the next match." Federer is bidding for a first French Open title, which would see him equal Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam triumphs. Against Martin, who has missed the last two French Opens through injury and then a failure to qualify, Federer showed flashes of brilliance in a fine display that saw him take victory in one hour and 43 minutes. "I didn't have much trouble on my service games," said the Swiss. "I mixed up my shots well to finish it off." Federer's fellow Swiss and 17th seed, Stanislas Wawrinka, recovered from a double-break down in the fourth set to beat Frenchman Nicolas Devilder 6-3 5-7 2-6 6-4 6-4. Russian 10th seed Nikolay Davydenko, twice a semi-finalist, eased past Austria's Stefan Koubek 6-2 6-1 6-4 and Fernando Gonzalez, the 12th seed from Chile, also advanced with a straight-sets win over Jiri Vanek of the Czech Republic. British number one Andy Murray will play Potito Starace in the second round after the Italian benefited from Mischa Zverev retiring at one set all. Highlights - Federer tests drop shot against Martin
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