May 25 (Bloomberg) -- Second-ranked Ana Ivanovic won on the first day of tennis's French Open while Britain's Andy Murray beat a French teenager in five sets to reach the second round for the first time.

David Nalbandian of Argentina and James Blake of the U.S. also advanced while Nicole Vaidisova, seeded 15, lost to Czech compatriot Iveta Benesova. Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic beat Germany's Denis Gremelmayr after dropping the first set. Djokovic, 21, reached the semifinal in Paris last year, losing to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.

Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten played the final match of his 13-year career to a standing ovation on center court when he was beaten by Paul-Henri Mathieu of France in three sets. Carlos Moya of Spain, the 1998 champion, also lost, to Eduardo Schwank of Argentina in five sets.

Murray, seeded 10, defeated Jonathan Eysseric, a former top- ranked junior and the youngest man in the draw at age 17, 6-2, 1- 6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. The 21-year-old, who missed the tournament last year because of a wrist injury, has been working with Alex Corretja, twice a runner-up in Paris, to prepare for this year's event.

Serbia's Ivanovic, a losing finalist in Paris last year and at the Australian Open this year, beat Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden 6-2, 7-5, to open proceedings at an overcast center court at Roland Garros. She then blew kisses to the crowd.

``She gave me a tough match,'' Ivanovic said at the post- match press conference. ``I am happy with the victory, and it's very nice to come back to Paris.''

Djokovic Recovers

Third-ranked Djokovic lost the first set to Gremelmayr before taking the next three sets to win 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

``This was one of the days when you just can't put your game in the direction that you want it to be,'' he said at a post- match press conference. ``And always those first rounds on the bigger events are the tricky ones, a lot of expectations, pressure. It wasn't easy, you know, but it's good to go through.''

The Serb entered Roland Garros, the only Grand Slam played on clay, with a chance of becoming the first man in 16 years to win the Australian and French Opens back-to-back. Djokovic won the Rome tournament in the run-up to Roland Garros.

Sixth-seeded Nalbandian, who made the French semifinals in 2004 and 2006, beat his compatriot Carlos Berlocq 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 on the Suzanne Lenglen court. Nalbandian, 26, reached the round of 16 last year, where he was defeated by fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.

Nadal's Aim

Second-ranked Nadal is bidding to become the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1978-81 to win four straight French Open titles. The Spaniard, 21, has yet to lose a match at the venue, and beat top-ranked Roger Federer the past two years in the final. He meets qualifier Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil tomorrow.

The women will have a new champion after top-ranked Justine Henin of Belgium announced her immediate retirement from the sport at age 25 on May 14. The Belgian won the tournament four times.

Vaidisova, a semifinalist in 2006, lost to Benesova 7-6 (7- 2), 6-1, having come into the tournament after a five-match losing streak.

Blake, the eighth seed, defeated Germany's Rainer Schuettler, a player he hadn't beaten on two previous occasions, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3). The American's best performance at Roland Garros was a third-round exit in 2006.

Kuerten's Exit

Former top-ranked player Kuerten lost to Mathieu 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. The crowd shouted his name and did a ``Mexican wave'' before Mathieu, seeded 18, served for the match. Dozens of Brazilian fans displayed their nation's flag at every point won by their countryman.

Kuerten won the event in 1997, 2000 and 2001 and is retiring after a series of hip injuries. The Brazilian, who won more than $14 million in his career, was making his first French Open appearance in three years.

One of seven players to have won the French Open three times or more, Kuerten thanked the crowd after the match in French, telling them that playing at Roland Garros had been ``my life, my passion, my love.''

Serena Williams, the only woman left in the draw to have previously won the title, was trailing fellow American Ashley Harkleroad 1-2 in the first set.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, runner-up at the Australian Open, withdrew from the tournament. Tsonga, ranked 11th, will have an operation on his right knee and will also miss Wimbledon, he told reporters in Paris yesterday.

``I'm very frustrated and extremely sad,'' Tsonga said. ``I was dreaming about playing at Roland Garros in front of a public which was looking forward to me being here.''

The last French man to win in Paris was Yannick Noah 25 years ago.

To contact the reporter for this story: Danielle Rossingh at Roland Garros through the London newsroom at drossingh@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 25, 2008 14:13 EDT