World number one Novak Djokovic defeated David Goffin 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 7-5 in the first round of the French Open.
In the first- set, the 26- year- old Serb was forced to a 5-5 tie- break by Goffin. He then broke the Belgian in the second set before securing his place in the last- 64 in 133 minutes.
“It was not easy, David is a good player with a lot of talent and a lot of aggressiveness,” Nova said.
“I love this Grand Slam. I really want to do well here,” the top- seed concluded.
Elsewhere, former US Open champion Sam Stosur and Marion Bartoli progressed after the delay caused by rain.
Ninth seed Stosur needed only 64 minutes to beat Kimiko Dante- Krumm, breaking her 42- year- opponent five times to win 6-0, 6-2.
Stosur has reached the French Open semi- finals twice and was runner- up in 2010.
13th seed Bartoli needed three hours and twelve minutes to overcome Belarus’ Olga Govortsova, eventually prevailing 7-6 (10-8), 4-6, 7-5.
In the men’s draw, 26th seed Grigor Dimitrov was ahead of Alejandro Falla 6-4, 1-0 when the Colombian retired, while Germany’s Tommy Haas, whose impressive 2013 saw him move up from 21st in the world to 14th, overcame Frenchman Guillaume Ruffin 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 6-3.
Australian Bernard Tomic retired with an apparent knee injury, trailing Romania’s Victor Hanescu 7-5, 7-6 (10-8), 2-1.
Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka defeated Netherland’s Thiemo de Bakker in four sets, while 28th seed Florian Mayer fell victim to Denis Istomin, retiring when trailing 6-4, 3-6, 5-7.
New Zealand’s Marina Erakovic overwhelmed Elena Baltacha 6-3, 6-0 in their first- round clash.
Women third seed Victoria Azarenkka had her match against Elena Vesnina postponed until Wednesday, as was British number two Heather Watson’s encounter with Stefanie Voegele.
Petra Kvitova and Aravane Rezai’s clash was also postponed for the day.
A two- and – a- half hour rain delay in the morning, followed by further interlude of play due to weather in the afternoon, left the Paris organisers well behind schedule in their plans to stage 40 first- round matches on Day 3 of the Roland Garros.
Tournament officials will carry on with the plans to build a retractable roof over Court Philippe Chatrier, despite a judicial ruling last month that put the project on hold.
The roof is part of a £290 million renovation project set to be completed in 2018.
