Nalbandian makes a good start in Paris

PARIS, France -- Sixth seed David Nalbandian made a comfortable start to the French Open by beating fellow Argentine Carlos Berlocq 6-2 6-4 6-1 in Paris.

Nalbandian, a semifinalist in 2004 and 2006, holds a 2-0 career record over the champion Rafael Nadal and could meet the Spaniard in the quarterfinals.

He will face French wildcard Jeremy Chardy for a place in the third round.

"I can play better but to win in three sets is good enough," said Nalbandian.

Seventh seed James Blake became the first American man to make round two at Roland Garros since 2006 by beating Rainer Schuettler 6-4 6-1 7-6 victory over Rainer Schuettler.

At last year's French Open, American men went 0-9 in the first round, with Blake losing to Ivo Karlovic.

Blake is 9-6 on clay this year, but he struggled to overcome Schuettler, who has lost in the first round at Roland Garros in seven of his nine appearances.

Blake won the first set on the first break of serve in the match, and then raced out to a 5-0 lead in the second set. In the third, Blake led 5-1 but his German opponent won five straight games to go ahead 6-5.

Third seed Novak Djokovic, the Australian Open champion and best player in the world this year, lost the first set to German Denis Gremelmayr but battled back to win 4-6 6-3 7-5 6-2.

Former triple champion Gustavo Kuerten, whose career has been seriously disrupted by a chronic hip injury, returns to the Philippe Chatrier Court to take on French 18th seed Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Kuerten was the champion in 1997, 2000 and 2001.