PARIS, France (AP) — Rafael Nadal hopped, spun and threw an overhand punch toward his friends and family, stirring memories of past celebrations on his favourite stage.

After more than 90 minutes of tense tennis, Nadal had finally won a set, leaving him only 20 sets from another French Open championship.

The Spaniard survived an early scare yesterday and successfully began his bid for an eighth title at Roland Garros by rallying past Daniel Brands of Germany, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3.

Nadal, who had lost only 14 sets in 53 previous matches at the French Open, fell behind when he was broken in the ninth game and was on the verge of digging a deeper hole in the red clay. He trailed 3-0 in the tiebreaker, then summoned his best shot-making to salvage the set and soon was in control against the dangerous Brands.

“He was playing unbelievably,” Nadal said. “He was trying to hit every ball as hard as he can. Sometimes you feel you are not hitting a bad shot, and every time comes back a bomb. So I am very happy to be through, seriously.”

Nadal, who won a record seventh French Open title last year, improved to 53-1 at Roland Garros. He’s 37-2 since returning in February after a seven-month layoff because of a left knee injury, reaching the finals at all eight tournaments he played and winning six.

While Nadal took centre stage, US women fanned out to remote courts and quietly went 6-1. That included victories by Madison Keys, who won her Roland Garros debut, and by Melanie Oudin, who ousted No 28 Tamira Paszek 6-4, 6-3. Number 17 Sloane Stephens, who reached the fourth round last year, beat Karin Knapp 6-2, 7-5.

American Ryan Harrison won a match at Roland Garros for the first time in three tries, beating Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4). Number 19 John Isner improved to 4-4 at Roland Garros by beating Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

Li Na, the 2011 women’s champion, beat nemesis Anabel Medina Garrigues in her opening match, 6-3, 6-4. Agnieszka Radwanska, last year’s runner-up at Wimbledon, defeated Shahar Peer 6-1, 6-1.

The 6-foot-5 Brands, ranked 59th, came into his match against Nadal with an 0-4 career record at Roland Garros. But he gained a foothold with his big forehand and serves of up to 134 mph, while Nadal’s feared groundstrokes lacked their normal depth and force at the outset.

The capacity crowd on centre court sensed a possible upset and began rooting for Brands. But he gave Nadal an opening in the tiebreaker, blowing an easy backhand approach to make it 3-all.

From there the match quickly turned. On set point Nadal stretched to crack a backhand return into the corner for a winner, sparking his first celebration of the day.

He earned his first service break of the match in the third set and held the rest of the way, serving better once he had the lead.

Seeded third but a heavy favourite, Nadal won his 16th consecutive match, and he improved to 34-0 in the first round at Grand Slams. He’s trying to become the first man to win eight titles at the same major event.

On the men’s side, Michael Russell of the United States retired with a left hamstring injury trailing Martin Klizan 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Klizan plays Nadal in the second round.

Nick Kyrgios of Australia, at 18 the youngest player in the men’s draw, made a successful Grand Slam debut by beating 34-year-old Radek Stepanek 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8), 7-6 (11). Kyrgios won despite breaking serve only once.