Nadal hobbles past Daniel in first round

By Julien Pretot

PARIS (Reuters) - World number one Rafael Nadal started his bid for a fifth consecutive French Open title by labouring past Brazilian qualifier Marcos Daniel 7-5 6-4 6-3 on Monday.

The Spaniard, who is unbeaten at Roland Garros since his debut in 2005, needed two hours and 23 minutes to get past Daniel and set up a second round meeting with either Teimuraz Gabashvili or Igor Kunitsyn of Russia.

Daniel mixed up his game with cunning drop shots to try and unsettle the four-times champion but Nadal stepped up a gear at 7-5 1-3.

World number 97 Daniel got a break back in the eighth game of the third set but it was the Brazilian's final gasp and Nadal sealed the win on his opponent's serve on his first match point.

Instead of quizzing Nadal about the problems he faced in the first two sets, the question on the everyone's lips was why the the Spaniard chose to wear a pink shirt on Centre Court for his 29th consecutive win at Roland Garros.

"I don't know. Why was I in white and yellow two weeks ago? It's better than (to) dress (in) the same colour every week, no?" he asked reporters.

The world number one, who won the Monte Carlo and Rome Masters on clay this season, said he has always needed some time to adjust to the conditions in Paris.

"It's always tough in the beginning here. Roland Garros is always difficult," he said.