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PARIS. — Andy Murray rallied to win from two sets down for the ninth time, advancing to the second round of the French Open tennis tournament by beating qualifier Radek Stepanek 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 yesterday.

While Murray needed two days to progress, nine-time champion Rafael Nadal had a much easier time against big-serving Sam Groth, losing only three games in a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 win. World number one Novak Djokovic also got his bid for a first French Open title off to a flying start with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 win over Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun.

The top seed, bidding to become just the eighth man to secure a career Grand Slam, needed only 90 minutes to see off the world number 95. The 29-year-old top seed fired 35 winners past the 32-year-old Lu and broke serve on seven occasions.

Djokovic, a beaten finalist in Paris on three occasions, goes on to face Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis in round two.

In the women’s draw, Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber lost in the first round. Hampered by a left shoulder injury, the third-seeded Kerber was beaten by 58th-ranked Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Francesca Schiavone, the 2010 French Open champion, was also eliminated, losing to Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 6-4.

Stepanek, the oldest man in the field at 37, hit 57 winners in his suspenseful encounter on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Murray was leading 4-2 in the fourth set when play was suspended Monday because of darkness. He was twice two points from losing while serving and trailing 5-4 in the fifth. But he held there, then broke Stepanek and served it out after wasting his first match point with a double-fault. — AFP.