Nervy start, but seeds keep head

Djokovic, Ivanovic shake off early troubles to advance, Kuerten8217;s French Open party ends early.

Gustavo Kuerten bid farewell to tennis Sunday in the first round of the French Open, losing 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to Paul-Henri Mathieu at the site of his biggest triumphs.

The former top-ranked Brazilian won three French Open titles.

8220;Here, it is my life, my passion and my love,8221; Kuerten said in French. 8220;It8217;s great to have my family here, my coach. But more important was the love you gave me.8221;

The 31-year-old Kuerten has been bothered by a hip injury since 2001. Since having surgery in 2004, he has played in only 19 tournaments and won five matches. This year8217;s French Open was his first appearance in a Grand Slam tournament since the 2005 US Open 8212; and he said beforehand it would be his last event at any level.

Third-seeded Novak Djokovic, No. 6 David Nalbandian, No. 10 Andy Murray and No. 7 James Blake advanced to the second round, but 1998 French Open champion Carlos Moya lost to Eduardo Schwank 7-6 4, 6-2, 6-7 1, 4-6, 6-3.

Blake8217;s 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 3 victory over Rainer Schuettler made him the first American man to win a match at Roland Garros since 2006.

In the women8217;s draw, eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams beat Ashley Harkleroad 6-2, 6-1 and last year8217;s French Open runner-up Ana Ivanovic struggled before beating Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 7-5.

The first seeded player to lose was No. 15 Nicole Vaidisova, upset by Iveta Benesova 7-6 2, 6-1.

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Djokovic survived a rough start to his quest for a second straight Grand Slam title, holding off Denis Gremelmayr 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

The Australian Open champion was broken in his first two service games on center court and trailed 5-1 in the first set before finding some of his game in the second.

In the third set, Djokovic started to show his frustration, throwing his racket into the red clay after Gremelmayr hit a forehand winner in the opening game.

Starting troubles

The second-ranked Ivanovic, who became the first player representing Serbia to play in a major final at last year8217;s French Open, had six double-faults on center court and was broken by her Swedish opponent when serving for the first set at 5-1.

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Williams, the 2002 French Open champion, was broken in the first game of the match and trailed 2-0 before winning seven straight games as a light rain fell.

Matches to watch

12-Tommy Robredo v Guillermo Coria

8-Venus Williams v Tzipora Obziler

Thomaz Bellucci v 2-Rafael Nadal

Monica Niculescu v 3-Jelena Jankovic

1-Roger Federer v Sam Querrey