PARIS, France (AP) — Rafael Nadal excelled when he needed to most, winning the final two sets against John Isner yesterday to advance to the second round at the French Open with a 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4 victory.

The five-time champion, who is now 39-1 at Roland Garros, played a five-set match at Roland Garros for the first time in seven visits.

Nadal last lost a set at the French Open in 2009, when he was eliminated by Robin Soderling in the fourth round. He had never previously dropped a set in the first or second round. The top-seeded Nadal is trying to equal Bjorn Borg’s record of six French Open titles.

Also advancing to the second round were Australian Open finalists Andy Murray and Li Na, as well as Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters and two-time French Open finalist Robin Soderling.

Sharapova, who will next face French wild card Caroline Garcia, won the title at Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008.

The sixth-seeded Li, who became the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam final, dominated at times and struggled at times in her 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 win over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic.

But first on Court Philippe Chatrier, an emotional Virginie Razzano played despite the death of her fiancé eight days ago. The Frenchwoman, playing with a black ribbon on her shirt, lost to 24th-seeded Jarmila Gajdosova of Australia 6-3, 6-1.

Razzano’s fiancé and coach Stephane Vidal died on May 16 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour nine years ago. He was 32.

The 28-year-old Razzano said last week that she asked Vidal before he died if she should play at Roland Garros and he said, “Yes, you need to play.”

Razzano will also play in the doubles tournament with partner Alize Cornet.

Former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic also lost. The 20th-seeded Serb, who won the title at Roland Garros in 2008, fell to Johanna Larsson of Sweden, 7-6 (3), 0-6, 6-2.

No 22 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia also was eliminated, while No 4 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, No 21 Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium and No 27 Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania won.

Murray made it through to the second round by beating French qualifier Eric Prodon, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.

The fourth-seeded Briton went on a four-match winless run after losing the Australian Open final, but he reached the semifinals at clay-court warm-ups in Monte Carlo and Rome.

The fifth-seeded Soderling beat Ryan Harrison of the United States, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-5. Harrison won a spot in the main draw after Benjamin Becker withdrew.

No 8 Jurgen Melzer of Austria, No 16 Fernando Verdasco of Spain, No 20 Florian Mayer of Germany, No 21 Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine, No 24 Sam Querrey of the United States and No 32 Kevin Anderson of South Africa also advanced, but No 11 Nicolas Almagro of Spain lost.