French Open 2013: Novak Djokovic beats David Goffin

World number one Novak Djokovic saw off the spirited challenge of David Goffin with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 7-5 win in the first round of the French Open.

The 26-year-old was taken to 5-5 in a first-set tie-break and broken in the second set before securing his last-64 place in two hours and 13 minutes.

"It was not easy. David is a good player with a lot of talent and a lot of aggressiveness," said the Serb.

Djokovic, who was runner-up last year, will face Argentina's Guido Pella next.

"I love this Grand Slam," Djokovic added. "I really want to do well here."

Elsewhere, former US Open champion Sam Stosur and Marion Bartoli progressed on a rain-affected day of action.

Ninth seed Stosur thrashed Kimiko Date-Krumm, breaking her 42-year-old opponent five times to win 6-0 6-2 in 64 minutes.

The Australian was runner-up in 2010 and has reached the semi-finals twice.

French 13th seed Bartoli also has an impressive track record on the Paris clay after reaching the semi-finals in 2011, but took three hours and 12 minutes to get the better of Belarus's Olga Govortsova, eventually prevailing 7-6 (10-8) 4-6 7-5.

In the men's draw Grigor Dimitrov, seeded 26th, was leading Alejandro Falla 6-4 1-0 when the Colombian retired, while Germany's Tommy Haas, who has climbed from 21st in the world at the start of the season to 14th, overcame France's Guillaume Ruffin 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 6-3.

Australian Bernard Tomic retired with an apparent knee injury while trailing Romania's Victor Hanescu 7-5 7-6 (10-8) 2-1 and later confirmed that his father John, currently being investigated for an alleged assault of his son's training partner, is still his coach.

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka beat the Netherlands' Thiemo de Bakker in four sets, but 28th seed Florian Mayer fell victim to Denis Istomin, retiring when losing 6-4 3-6 5-7.

A two-and-a-half hour rain delay in the morning, followed by a further break for the weather in the afternoon, left the Paris organisers well behind schedule in their plans to stage 40 first-round matches on the third day of action.

Women's third seed Victoria Azarenka had her match against Elena Vesnina postponed until Wednesday, as was British number two Heather Watson's encounter with Stefanie Voegele.

Petra Kvitova and Aravane Rezai's clash was also cancelled for the day.

Watson is the only remaining British interest in the singles draws after Elena Baltacha was overwhelmed 6-3 6-0 by New Zealand's Marina Erakovic.

Tournament officials intend to move ahead with plans to build a retractable roof over Court Philippe Chatrier, despite a judicial ruling last month that put the project on hold.

The roof is set to be completed in 2018 as part of a £290m renovation project at Roland Garros.