By Chris Oddo

(May 27, 2013) -- In blustery conditions against the type of player that seems to bother him the most, Rafael Nadal survived a tricky encounter with hard-serving German Daniel Brands, beginning his quest for a record 8th French Open title with a 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Day 1: Federer Kicks off Roland Garros with a Bang

After dropping the first set, and falling behind 3-0 in the second set tiebreaker, Nadal moved swiftly to take control of the match, notching his 53rd win against only one career loss at Roland Garros in the process.

It may not have been vintage, swashbuckling Nadal, but the Spaniard's effort in the final two sets was more indicative of what we will likely see from him over the ensuing fortnight as he chases down tennis immortality by trying to become the first male player to win eight titles at any Grand Slam.

Seven players have won the same Grand Slam seven times, including Roger Federer and Pete Sampras, who each own seven Wimbledon titles.

Nadal, who yielded to only one of Brands' break point opportunities on the day, saved the final three he faced, all in the third set. He broke in the German's first service game of sets three and four.

Wordplay: The Best Quotes from Roland Garros, Day 1

Brands joins John Isner, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as one of only four people to have taken a set off of Nadal since his loss to Robin Soderling in 2009. The 25-year-old German made 80 percent of his first serves in the first set, saving the only break point he faced.

He looked to be well on his way to a two sets to love lead against Nadal when things turned in the Spaniard's favor in the second set tiebreaker.

Though Brands remained within striking distance throughout the final two sets, serving 10 aces and cracking 51 winners on the afternoon, once he surrendered a break in sets three and four Nadal's grip on the match seemed all the more vise-like.

Nadal will face Slovakian Martin Klizan in the second round. Klizan, a former Roland Garros junior champion, advanced when American Michael Russell had to retire trailing two sets to one.

(Photo Credit: AP)