PARIS — The “King of Clay” eclipsed another mark Monday, this time breaking the French Open men’s record for consecutive victories.
Top-seeded Rafael Nadal looked his usual dominant self in the first round, beating Marcos Daniel of Brazil 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 for his 29th straight win on the red clay at Roland Garros.
“At the beginning, I didn’t quite get the best feelings, but I won in three sets. That’s very positive,” Nadal said. “I should have won more easily . . . but it was a difficult match.”
Nadal’s win bettered the French Open record held by Bjorn Borg, who won 28 straight from 1978-81. Nadal also equaled the overall tournament record, matching the 29 straight Chris Evert won between 1974-75 and 1979-81. Evert did not play at the tournament from 1976-78.
Roger Federer, the man Nadal beat in the last three French Open finals, had an easier time in his opening match, defeating Alberto Martin of Spain 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
Federer has won 13 major titles, but he still needs to win the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam.
Also advancing on the men’s side was sixth-seeded Andy Roddick, who beat French wild-card entry Romain Jouan 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to win a match at the French Open for the first time since 2005.
Dinara Safina, the top-seeded player in the women’s draw, advanced with No. 3 Venus Williams and unseeded Maria Sharapova.
Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, survived a second-set slump to beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. She won the match’s first five games, while Mattek-Sands asked for a medical timeout during the first set so a trainer could look at her right wrist.
“I’m definitely a third-set player,” Williams said. “Once I get to the third set . . . I feel a new level coming.”
At a glance
A look at the French Open on Monday:
How the top seeds fared: Men — No. 1 Rafael Nadal, No. 2 Roger Federer, No. 6 Andy Roddick and No. 10 Nikolay Davydenko advanced. Women — No. 1 Dinara Safina and No. 3 Venus Williams advanced.
Stat of the day: 29 — Consecutive wins at the French Open for Nadal, a record for men and tying the overall tournament mark set by Chris Evert.
Quote of the day: “I’m definitely a third-set player.” — Williams, who struggled in the middle of her 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
On court today: No. 4 Novak Djokovic vs. Nicolas Lapentti, No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro vs. Michael Llodra; No. 2 Serena Williams vs. Klara Zakopalova, No. 4 Elena Dementieva vs. Chanelle Scheepers, No. 5 Jelena Jankovic vs. Petra Cetkovska.
Today’s TV: Tennis Channel, 3 a.m.-10 a.m.; ESPN2, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
