Three-time French Open winner Gustova Kuerten, of Brazil, shows a trophy for his contribution to tennis after being defeated by France's Paul-Henri Mathieu in their first-round match of the French Open tennis tournament, yesterday. - AP

PARIS (AP):

Gustavo Kuerten bid farewell to tennis yesterday at the site of his biggest triumphs.

The former top-ranked player, who won three French Open titles, lost to Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of this year's tournament at Roland Garros.

"Here, it is my life, my passion and my love," Kuerten said in French. "It's great to have my family here, my coach. But more important was the love you gave me."

The 31-year-old Brazilian has been bothered by a hip injury since 2001. Since having surgery in 2004, Kuerten has played in only 19 tournaments and won five matches. This year's French Open was his first Grand Slam appearance since the 2005 US Open - and he said beforehand it would be his last event at any level.

Third-seeded Novak Djokovic, number six David Nalbandian and number seven James Blake advanced to the second round. Blake's 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (3) victory over Rainer Schuettler made him the first American man to win a match at Roland Garros since 2006.

Ivanovic struggled

In the women's draw, two-time Grand Slam runner-up Ana Ivanovic struggled before beating Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 7-5. The first seeded player to lose was number 15 Nicole Vaidisova. She reached the French Open semi-finals in 2006 and the quarter-finals last year, but was upset by Iveta Benesova 7-6 (2), 6-1.

Kuerten saved one match point before sending a weak shot into the net. Then he sat back in his chair and pulled a towel over his head.

Shaking, he emerged from under cover with his eyes red and finally shook hands with Mathieu.

Kuerten was then led to the centre of the court, where he was given a glass trophy showing a slice of a clay court.

Lowest-ranked man

Kuerten - the last number one-seeded man to win the title in Paris in 2001 - entered what he said would be his last tournament as the lowest-ranked man in the field at number 141. He got his spot in the draw as a wild card.

Kuerten's final match was played on Court Philippe Chatrier, the main stadium at Roland Garros and the same venue where the Brazilian won French Open titles in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

Despite playing a Frenchman yesterday, Kuerten was cheered on by most in the crowd - complete with several Brazilian flags waving in the stands and group of people with giant gold-coloured letters spelling out G-U-G-A, his nickname.

Djokovic survived a rough start to his quest for a second straight Grand Slam title, holding off Denis Gremelmayr 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

The Australian Open champion was broken in his first two service games on centre court and trailed 5-1 in the first set before finding some of his game in the second.