Rafael Nadal eased past Jordan Thompson 6-2 6-2 6-2 to earn a 299th grand slam victory.
The 13-time champion produced an impressive display as he only dropped six games against the Australian.
Nadal earned his 299th career grand slam win and can reach a big milestone when he plays Corentin Moutet on Wednesday.
Moutet defeated Stan Wawrinka in four sets to reach the second round.
The big question heading into Nadal’s quest for a 14th Roland Garros title where about his foot and movement, whether it would be as clean and precise after his problems in Rome.
However Nadal emphatically answered those questions in the opening exchanges as he dominated the Australian from the back of the court.
Nadal took a 4-1 lead as his topspin was causing Thompson problems with the Australian’s big serve and volleying having little effect on the Spaniard.
The Australian was looking confused and had very little solutions as Nadal would take the opening set 6-2.
Nadal continued his dominance in the second set as he was winning points that seemed improbable to win.
Thompson did very little tactically to change the course of the match apart from rant to the umpire about various calls.
In business-like fashion Nadal continued the job at hand as he would break two more times and despite Thompson’s resilience, the Spaniard closed out a two sets to love advantage.
Thompson provided a much stronger resistance in the third set as he was taking the ball earlier and showed more rally tolerance.
In the end though the 21-time grand slam champion sailed through after grinding out a break in the fifth game and then securing another break in his next return game.
In his post-match press conference Nadal was pleased with his level, “I mean, happy with the performance, by the way, no? Have been a positive start,” the Spaniard said.
“Then of course I am kind of player that I always looking for something else, looking for better things. That’s what I gonna try to find on my practice tomorrow and then in the next match.”
Nadal will face Corentin Moutet in the second round after the French wildcard defeated former champion Stan Wawrinka 2-6 6-3 7-6(2) 6-3.
Wednesday’s clash will be their first meeting as Nadal looks to win a 300th grand slam match of his career.
