Rafael Nadal hits a return to Daniel Brands, yesterday.

All seemed normal as Rafael Nadal walked on to Chatrier Court to begin his pursuit of an eighth French Open title but Germany’s Daniel Brands ensured it was no regular Monday at the office for the defending champion who survived a huge scare.

Nadal, as expected, took his place in the second round but his 4-6 7-6 6-4 6-3 win over the inspired German who had never won a main draw match at Roland Garros was fraught with danger as he flirted with the unthinkable.

After a relatively thrill-free opening day on Sunday, fans flocked to the brick dust courts beside the Bois de Boulogne to feast their eyes on a line-up loaded with big names.

Former women’s champion Li Na began with a grafting 6-3 6-4 first round win against Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues while home fans dreaming of a first French men’s champion since 1983 cheered loudly as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga turned on the style.

However, it was claycourt king Nadal’s struggle that created the buzz around the crowds thronging the grounds.

The 26-year-old has been unstoppable in the build-up to the tournament he has dominated since winning the title as a teenager in 2005.

All looked well in Rafa World but things soon got complicated for the former world No.1.

Looking sluggish and struggling to cope with the punishing, flat-hitting of 59th ranked Brands, Nadal double-faulted on a break point at 4-4 and Brands seized his chance, claiming the first set with a forehand missile.

Brands then held off break points and dragged Nadal into a tense tiebreaker.

With the capacity crowd glued to the action, Brands fired down two huge winners to take a 3-0 lead but just when the alarm bells began to ring loudly in the Nadal camp, the Mallorcan was let off the hook.

A Brands backhand sliced low into the net gave Nadal a new lease of life and the Spaniard won seven of the final eight points in the tiebreak to level the match, roaring as much in relief as joy after dispatching a fizzing backhand passing shot on set point.

After breaking the mighty Brands serve for the first time in the opening game of the third set, Nadal always looked the likely winner, although his performance will offer hope to those wishing to knock him off his perch.

“He was playing unbelievable tennis and I was just trying to find my game and resist his great shots and I’m very happy to be through,” a relieved Nadal said in an interview.

While Nadal was toiling, Tsonga was entertaining the crowd out, outclassing Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene 6-2 6-2 6-3 with a performance of pace and power.