All seemed normal as Rafa 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 here since 1983 cheered loudly as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga turned on the style.
Russian powerhouse Maria Sharapova was set to turn up the volume later as she begins the defence of her title.
However, it was claycourt king Nadal's struggle that created the buzz around the crowds thronging the grounds.
The 26-year-old, looking to become the first man in history to win the same grand slam eight times, has been unstoppable in the build-up to the tournament he has dominated since winning the title as a teenager in 2005.
Five titles on clay since returning to the Tour after a seven-month injury lay-off, and the incredible statistic of a solitary defeat in his previous 53 French Open matches, should have made his first-round clash with Brands a formality.
When he banged the dirt off his shoes, performed the obligatory tug of his orange shorts and won the opening point with a dipping topspin forehand all looked well in Rafa World.
