Jo-Wilfried Tsonga survived the weight of home expectations while dangerman Juan Martin Del Potro shrugged off an injury scare before triumphing in sweltering heat on the first day of the French Open at Roland Garros.
French fifth seed Tsonga, the highest-ranked player in action, beat Russian qualifier Andrey Kuznetsov 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Ninth seed Del Potro saw off Spanish veteran Albert Montanes in four sets in a shade over three hours.
Andy Roddick slumped to a fifth French Open first round defeat in 10 visits when the injury-plagued American lost 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to France's Nicolas Mahut.
In the women's event, US Open champion Samantha Stosur had the honour of being the first player into the second round, brushing aside Britain's Elena Baltacha 6-4 6-0.
Venus Williams battled back from a set down to defeat Argentine teenager Paula Ormaechea 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
