In Pictures: Day 2 at the French Open

epa03720174 Tamira Paszek of Austria in action during her 1st round match against Melanie Oudin of USA at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 27 May 2013. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA

The clay on the Philippe Chatrier court was striking even on a cloudy second day of the French Open yesterday. Matthew Stockman / Getty Images

The former world No 1 eventually prevailed over the superb Brands, winning 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3. Nadal later said the level at which he was playing was not good enough for the latter stages of the tournament. Getty Images

Philipp Petzschner, Brands' compatriot, however, found himself to be below par against the Croatian Marin Cilic. Petzschner lost 6-1, 6-2, 6-3. Matthew Stockman / Getty Images

Since the rise of Li Na, there has been renewed hope for Asian tennis, particularly in the women's game. Misaki Doi, the Japanese world No 82, walked all over Madison Keys, of the United States, beating her 6-3, 6-2. Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP

The Serban Vesna Dolonc was competitive in the first set against China's Zheng Jie before her game dropped in the second during her 6-4, 6-1 defeat. Another victory for Asia. Thomas Coex / AFP

Zheng Jie is considered one of China's best players, alongside Li Na, and this may be the stage for her to capitalise on her promise. Thomas Coex / AFP

Rafael Nadal, who has made Roland Garros a fortress for himself, did not start off the way he does, which is to win convincingly. The Spaniard struggled to cope with Daniel Brands' game. Thomas Coex / AFP

Richard Gasquet started his French Open campaign with a straight-sets win over Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky. Gasquet, who has long been part of the French Revolution in men's tennis, has yet to live up his billing, but this could be the time to do that. Pa???

Svetlana Kuznetsova, one of several Russian women to lift the French Open trophy, began her campaign in style, thrashing compatriot Ekaterina Makarova. The former world No 1 won 6-4, 6-2. Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP

This year's French Open has already seen its first upset. Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych, one of the world's most gifted players - and a semi-finalist here - lost in the first round. The world No 6 was beaten by the Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-7, 4-6, 7-6, 7???

Monfils - banded with Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon - has also been one of the game's biggest underachievers. But he provided plenty of cheer to the home crowd by beating Berdych. Christophe Ena / AP Photo

Nadal, who has won the men's single tournament seven times, appeared shaken after losing the first set and coming close to succumbing in the second. But he kept his cool to rally back into the match. Michel Euler / AP Photo

Berdych may have been disappointed to lose so early in Roland Garros, but he can be proud of making a brilliant recovery after being two sets down before eventually losing in the final set. Michel Euler / AP Photo

There was more joy for France as Tsonga beat Aljaz Bedene, of Slovenia. The world No 8 thrashed Bedene 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to enter the second round. Stephane Mahe / Reuters