Postpublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 28 September 2020
Nadal 6-4 1-1 Gerasimov*
The pair play a game of Slice O'Clock, which Nadal wins.
Break point.
Day two from the French Open at Roland Garros, Paris
Defending champion Rafael Nadal beats Egor Gerasimov 6-4 6-4 6-2 to reach second round
Sixth seed Serena Williams beats Kristie Ahn 7-6 (7-2) 6-0 in first round
US Open champion Dominic Thiem beats Marin Cilic 6-4 6-3 6-3 in his opener
GB's Liam Broady beaten by Jiri Vesely 6-2 5-7 6-3 6-2
Daniel Elahi Galan v Cameron Norrie
Michael Emons and Saj Chowdhury
Nadal 6-4 1-1 Gerasimov*
The pair play a game of Slice O'Clock, which Nadal wins.
Break point.
Nadal 6-4 1-1 Gerasimov*
15-30 and then 30-30 with a deftest of volleys at the net from Gerasimov... great touch for a big...
Nadal 6-4 1-1 Gerasimov*
You can almost smell the lactic developing inside the arms of Gerasimov - a double-handed forehand finds mid-net.
0-30.
Naomi Cavaday
BBC Radio 5 Live tennis commentator
I always think it is about turning a match like this from being a Nadal exhibition into a competitive match.
If you can get ahead, or keep the score close, get to a tie-break, then you might be able to cling onto something.
Nadal 6-4 1-1 Gerasimov*
40-0 before a bit of drama - when I say "drama" it's the sort of drama you'd get on CBeebies - as the umpire comes off his seat to see if Nadal's ace was good.
It was.
So there you go.
*Nadal 6-4 0-1 Gerasimov
It then does click as he comes to the net to send an overhead past the reach of the dynamic Spaniard.
Gerasimov holds. An important one at the start of the set.
He now needs Nadal to drop about 30%.
*Vesely 6-2 5-7 6-3 0-1 Broady
If Liam Broady ends up causing an upset here, it will owe a lot to the service game he has just held at the start of the fourth set against Jiri Vesely.
The Briton fended off three break points in a long game that went to deuce six times. He's digging deep.
Nadal 6-4 0-0 Gerasimov*
The Belarusian is looking for that killer touch to end these long rallies, but it's just not clicking.
He goes a sliced drop but it falls short.
30-30.
Miles Maclagan
Former British Davis Cup player on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
I thought it was really impressive set of tennis from Nadal, with him not having played a lot.
The conditions are quite nice in the early evening, but he has come out aggressive and authoritative. The forehand has worked for him, it has pushed Gerasimov all around the court.
Gerasimov has played quite well, but quite well doesn't cut it against Nadal.
Nadal 6-4 0-0 Gerasimov*
Nadal asks Gerasimov to hold on a sec before firing down one of his rockets - spectator distraction, we think.
Nadal 6-4 Gerasimov*
His first ace of the match brings him his first set of the 2020 French Open.
#routine.
*Nadal 5-4 Gerasimov
Nadal gets applause after controlling a looping high ball with his in-step. We've all done it, of course.
He then gets no applause for a forehand which loops far beyond the baseline.
A drop brings up two set points.
*Nadal 5-4 Gerasimov
The cord gods fail to help out Gerasimov with his double-hander from the baseline before Nadal thumps a wonderful flat angled forehand winner.
30-0.
*Nadal 5-4 Gerasimov
Two big serves and a good hold from Gerasimov.
Now some of you (most will not) know I like an ATP bio factoid.
Here's one about Egor taken from the website:, external
"Favourite food is Japanese, but guilty pleasure is fast food."
That's great to know.
Nadal 5-3 Gerasimov*
The world number 83 is pushed wide and smacks a forehand wide before he goes long in the next point.
15-30.
Nadal 5-3 Gerasimov*
Nadal sprays his opponent from left to right on the clay, as forces an error from the 6ft 5in Belarusian.
The champ holds as Gerasimov punts a forehand long.
Time to break again?
Miles Maclagan
Former British Davis Cup player on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
On these seven games so far, I'd put Nadal back as the favourite. How do you bet against Nadal at the French Open? It doesn't feel right. Although I've changed my mind from about an hour ago...
Vesely 6-2 5-7 6-3 Broady*
After that flying start to the third set, Britain's Liam Broady dropped two service games in a row and has now lost the third set to Jiri Vesely after a fantastic backhand winner from the Czech.
He's been behind before, can he pull it back again?
*Nadal 4-3 Gerasimov
A double fault from Nadal.
It's all over, again.
Naomi Cavaday
BBC Radio 5 Live tennis commentator
Did we expect anything less from Nadal? There are elements which I think may make things more difficult for him here this year but so far he has looked great. He looks more aggressive than Rome, where he sat back a little too much.