PARIS (AFP) — Triple champion Rafael Nadal comfortably extended his perfect Roland Garros record on Wednesday as he took a step closer to emulating Bjorn Borg as the only four-in-a-row winner of the French Open.

The 21-year-old Spaniard notched up his 22nd win in 22 matches here and his 109th win in his last 111 claycourt career outings with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 opening round victory over Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci.

The second seed, who has defeated Roger Federer in the last two finals, will now face French qualifier Nicolas Devilder for a place in the last 32.

Nadal and Bellucci had shared two games late on Tuesday before heavy rain forced the players to flee to the locker room.

They returned to the Philippe Chatrier Court on Wednesday in bright sunshine, but confronted with a swirling wind which created a claycourt dustbowl.

The 76th-ranked Brazilian caught Nadal cold by breaking to lead 2-1 before the Spaniard eventually rallied to lead 5-3.

The 20-year-old Bellucci, making his Grand Slam debut, gamely hit back to 4-5 before his nerve failed him in the 12th game and a double fault handed Nadal the set.

Nadal broke in the eighth game of the second set on his way to a two-set lead and was quickly ahead in the third with two breaks providing the foundation for his win.

Courtesy: AFP