Popyrin tries to mix it up with a subtle drop over the tape but Nadal reads it and coaxes a slice back towards the youngster's feet.

The Australian saunters to the net off the next serve too but follows this one up with a smashed winner off Nadal's lofted return. 40-30.

Alexei Popyrin has the reach, those serves are coming down from some height too.

Rafael Nadal has the nous and just about everything else.

He makes the 21-year-old work with a flurry of baseline strokes, but it's Popyrin who takes control of the point and gets Nadal scurrying to his left in vain. 30-15.

It's a brief blemish.

Rafael Nadal cranks up the tempo a touch to edge to a hold and it remains on serve.

And a double fault from the third seed. 30-30. Popyrin looks to leap all over a slower second serve off the next, dancing round the ball on to his forehand side, but thunders it wide.

Nadal can't get over the line, though, that's deuce.

Rafael Nadal is warming up the sweet spot, the defending champion is sizzling down forehands with speed and spin, but cups his next effort into the tape. 30-15.

And Alexei Popyrin holds to love. Great start.

Can't help thinking I want to know more about his run-in with Carlton Palmer.

That's nice from the Australian, some big, grunting groundstrokes finished off by a forehand winner from the baseline and followed up by an ace. That'll settle the nerves.

Nadal tries to switch it up with a backhand that comes back into the void Popyrin just left behind, but overcooks his attempt and finds the tramlines.

It's no bother for the Spaniard, he wriggles towards the net and drops a deft volley on to the clay the other side. He holds.

Solid opening for the champ, dressed a little like a tennis ball today in a bright green top, that'll make it hard to see the fluff coming back at you... he edges to 30-15 as Alexei Popyrin rattles the net stand.

And away we go...

Defending champion Rafael Nadal will serve first.

Image source, Getty Images

So what do you know about 21-year-old Aussie prospect Alexei Popyrin?

Well, there's a nice anecdote in The Saturday Paper about how former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer tried to convince the young Everton fan to play football while he was living in Dubai.

He earned his first ATP title earlier this year at the Singapore Open and is currently ranked 63rd in the world.

Image source, Getty Images

These two have recent history...

They met at an ATP event in Madrid earlier this month, where Rafael Nadal came through with a 6-3 6-3 victory.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

The World No. 3 has a strange ring about it when you are introducing Nadal, bidding for a 14th title and 21st Slam

Naomi Cavaday
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra commentator

I feel like there are two defending champions here, (Barty) won in 2019, Swiatek in 2020. The last time she was here she was lifting the trophy so she has to be feeling pretty good.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier today, fifth seed Elina Svitolina survived a scare to beat teenage debutant Oceane Babel and reach the second round.

The Ukrainian fought back from a break down in the second set to triumph 6-2 7-5 in 17-year-old Paris native Babel's first senior Grand Slam appearance.

Babel led 5-2 in set two but Svitolina won five straight games to progress.

Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady beat Anastasija Sevastova 6-3 6-3 while Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari defeated Ukraine's Katarina Zavatska 6-4 6-1.

Some quick breaking news for you coming up...

Image source, Getty Images

Afternoon!

Rafael Nadal begins his quest to win a 21st men's Grand Slam singles title and edge clear of old foe Roger Federer, but Australian Alexei Popyrin the latest hurdle in his path.

The Spaniard has won a record 13 titles at Roland Garros and, even though he turns 35 on Thursday, he remains the favourite to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires once again.

So can anyone stop the King of Clay?