PARIS (AP)—Four-time champion Rafael Nadal began his quest to wrest back the French Open title by dismissing Gianni Mina of France 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 Tuesday, despite struggling at times on his serve before extending his record to 32-1 at Roland Garros.
Nadal, who was upset by Robin Soderling in the fourth round last year while struggling with knee tendinitis, committed 28 unforced errors and had to save nine break points against the 655th-ranked Mina.
“I feel good, this is the most important thing for a sportsman,” Nadal said. “I went through bad moments last year.”
Nadal is unbeaten on clay this year, having won titles at Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid.
Mina, who was making his Grand Slam debut after making the boy’s tournament final last year, made Nadal work hard on his serve but repeatedly failed to come up with something special on his break points.
Earlier, Justine Henin took a big step in her return from retirement by beating Tsvetana Pironkova 6-4, 6-3 in her first-round match.
The match was Henin’s first on center court at Roland Garros since 2007, when she won the tournament for the fourth time.
“I didn’t know really what to expect and how I was going to deal with my emotions,” the Belgian said. “As I walked in and I was into my match, I felt a lot of things were coming back. It was just fantastic to share this again with the crowd, as they gave me one more time great support. So it was very good to be back.”
Henin rejoined the tour in January following a 20-month retirement, and while she’s seeded only 22nd, she’s considered one of the favorites for the title.
“She has all of the chances to win this tournament,” said Pironkova, who had played—and lost to—Henin three times before. “She still plays great. I don’t think she lost (anything) with that rest that she had. I think she is playing even better. She’s faster, and her strokes are more secure.”
Henin endured some ragged moments in the second set, when Pironkova won three consecutive games for a 3-2 lead. Henin swept 10 points in a row to regain control, and following another wobble serving at 4-3, she took the final six points.
“I didn’t serve really good in that match, that’s for sure,” Henin said. “First round is never easy. So I’m just happy I came through.”
Henin hit picturesque backhands, nifty drop shots and booming overhead slams — all staples in a repertoire that has helped her win seven Grand Slam titles. She also missed more than half of her first serves, however, and blew a handful of easy putaways.
“I’ve worked pretty hard in the last few months, but the way is still very long,” she said. “I’m probably less consistent now than I was in terms of keeping the intensity all the time. That’s what I’m working on at the moment.”
Despite the inconsistent play, Henin extended her winning streak at Roland Garros to 22 consecutive matches and 37 consecutive sets. She hasn’t lost at the French Open since 2004.
Kimiko Date Krumm also made a successful Roland Garros comeback, beating two-time runner-up Dinara Safina 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. The 39-year-old Date Krumm, who ended a 12-year retirement in 2008, was playing in the French Open for the first time since 1996.
She’s the second-oldest woman to win a match in the tournament.
Warm, hazy weather had players seeking refuge under umbrellas in their changeover chairs, and the conditions seemed to suit seeded players. Among those advancing were No. 18 Sharar Peer, No. 21 Vera Zvonareva, No. 23 Daniela Hantuchova and No. 29 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. None lost more than six games.
On the men’s side, No. 7 Fernando Verdasco beat Igor Kunitsyn 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 and Andy Roddick endured repeated frustrations on his worst surface before rallying past Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
The match was Roddick’s first on clay since he lost in the fourth round at Roland Garros last year. The sixth-seeded American barely avoided losing his opening French Open match for the fifth time.
“There was a lot of ugliness out there today,” Roddick said. “But, you know, at the end of it, I get to play again. You go into a day hoping to get through a day, and I got through today.”