Live Commentary: French Open - Rafael Nadal vs. Martin Klizan - as it happened

Good morning. The players are due to head out to Court Suzanne Lenglen in the next 10 minutes. This match had originally been scheduled to take place yesterday, but the weather had other ideas. Fortunately, today's forecast is more favourable.

Nadal's first-round match has reminded the tennis world that the third seed is beatable! The Spaniard lost his opening set against Germany's Daniel Brands, before heading to a tie-break in the second. Nadal needed a strong performance in the third and fourth sets to wrap up the match.

The is just Klizan's second appearance at the French Open, and equals his best performance, having reached the second round last year as well. The 23-year-old's best performance at a Grand Slam was at the US Open last year, when he made it to the fourth round before losing to Marin Cilic.

Klizan has never played Nadal before. Like the Spaniard, he plays left-handed, and is currently ranked 35th in the world, having reached his highest ever ranking of 26 earlier this year.

The players are waiting to head out to the court, but Nadal has headed back into the dressing room for some last-minute preparations.

Here come the players! Nadal still has plenty of strapping around his knee, having missed seven months with tendinitis. It's a fairly modest crowd at Lenglen at the moment, but that will soon change once the match gets underway.

While the duo are taking part in a warm-up, let's have a re-cap of Nadal's remarkable record at Roland Garros. The world number four has competed at the French Open on eight previous occasions, being crowned champion on seven of those. His sole defeat at the tournament came in 2009, when he lost in the fourth round to Robin Soderling. He put the defeat behind him later that year though, taking his only title to date at Wimbledon.

Since returning from his prolonged absence, Nadal has lost just two matches; once to world number one Novak Djokovic in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters, and also in the final of the Brasil Open to Horacio Zeballos. That was his first tournament since last year's Wimbledon.

The winner of this match will play 27th seed Fabio Fognini in the next round, after he beat Lukas Rosol yesterday.

It's a solid opening game for the reigning champion. The pair exchange shots from the baseline before Klizan hits the net. Nadal adds the next points with a smash from near the net before adding his first ace of the match. Klizan tries to attack with his forehand, but again he finds the net, handing Nadal the game.

The Slovakian makes a shaky start to the game, allowing Nadal the opening points with a wide forehand, but a superb winner down the sideline gets him back into the game. Klizan targets his next two serves at Nadal's backhand and it pays dividends, before sealing it with an ace down the centre of the court. A strong opening service game for the 23-year-old.

Klizan makes an aggressive start to the game, but he fires the ball wide, recording his fifth unforced error of the game. Nadal tries to catch his opponent out with a well-timed drop shot, but the Slovakian races into the net to return it and win the point. However, another couple of long balls, followed by a return to the net from Klizan allow Nadal to hold serve.

Although he hasn't really pushed Nadal yet, Klizan has shown signs that he can compete with the reigning champion. The Spaniard will have to work hard if he is to wrap this up in straight sets.

A couple of surprising errors from Nadal allow Klizan to take a 30-0 lead, but the Spaniard gets himself on the board with a delicate drop shot. A big serve from the Slovakian wins him the next point, before Nadal makes another mistake to give Klizan the game.

Nadal rushes in to win the first points with a volley, but Klizan manages to steal the next. However, a series of long returns from the world number 35 make it another easy hold for the third seed. It doesn't feel like Nadal has really got going yet. He may be trying to save his energy for the later rounds, but with yeterday's delays he's likely to be playing again tomorrow, so won't want to spent too long on court.

A mis-hit from Nadal gives Klizan the opening point of the game, but a couple of long balls from the Slovakian hand Nadal the lead. The world number four plays two drop shots in a lengthy rally as he tries to out-smart his opponent, but Klizan spots them coming. Two long returns from Nadal hand Klizan the game. The third seed looks frustrated not to have earned a break point there.

BREAK! Nadal serves up the first double fault of the match as the Spaniard seems to be struggling to get into this contest. A poor drop shot from the third seed allows Klizan to smash the ball past him, presenting the Slovakian with two break points, and Nadal slices his forehand wide.

This feels exactly like Nadal's opening set against Brands earlier this week. The Spaniard is just taking too long to get going, against an opponent that knows he's expected to lose, so it just giving it everything. The saving grace for Nadal is that Klizan has broken earlier than Brands, so he has time to get back into the set.

Nadal looked forcused as the waited for Klizan to get the game underway, but a poor return sees his head drop. Klizan moves effortlessly behind the baseline before landing a forehand stroke in the back corner of the court. At 40-0 up, Klizan smashes an ace past the reigning champion to consolidate the break.

A horrible mis-hit from Klizan gives Nadal the first point of the game, but the seven-time champion puts his forehand long before finding the net. A good serve brings it back to 30-30. Klizan tries a drop shot but it clips the net, and Nadal takes the game. Klizan will serve for the opening set next.

A spectacular opening point sees Nadal playing shots from all around the court, but he slices his backhand wide. Klizan serves his third ace of the set to bring up two set points, but some jitters let Nadal save the first. However, the defending champion fires his return long off the next serve, and Klizan seals the opening set.

Nadal seems to have put the first set behind him fairly quickly, sliding effortlessly behind the baseline to take the first two points, before a big serve catches his opponent out. The reigning champion looks pretty fired up at the start of this second set.

BREAK! Nadal goes on the attack, but has to change to racquet when he breaks a string. The Spaniard slices his next shot, allowing Klizan to come into the net for a superb volley, but a wild forehand on the next point gives Nadal his first break point of the match, and a poor shot to the net from Klizan gives Nadal the game.

Nadal races to a 40-15 lead as he looks to consolidate his break, but a double fault gives Klizan some hope. However, a series of great shots from the net give Nadal the game. He really seems to have woken up since going a set down.

BREAK! Nadal gets a lucky bounce off the net chord to take the first point, before Klizan breaks a string going for a forehand down the sideline. The Slovaikian seems to have lost some of the power and accuracy from his serve, and appears to have twisted his ankle sliding along the baseline. Nadal brings up three more break points, and clinches them at the first time as asking.

BREAK! Nadal gets his first ace of the match, but a couple of clumsy errors allow Klizan a 30-15 lead. Nadal is putting much more power into his ground strokes, but gives it too much from behind the baseline to give Klizan a chance to break back, which he does when Nadal fires another shot long.

Klizan plays a superb forehand down the sideline, which is called good after some examination from Nadal and the umpire. The Slovakian follows it with another ace, before clinching it with another great forehand. Klizan isn't out of this set yet.

Klizan takes the first point and the crowd get right behind him chanting "Martin". Nadal responds with his second ace of the match, before Klizan finds the net while sliding along the baseline. The Spaniard seals the game with another big serve, which his opponent can't return, and is just one game from leveling up the match.

Klizan is unhappy when the umpire makes the players replay the opening point of the game. The Slovakian's serve was called long but the call was over-ruled, with Nadal's return having gone wide. However, the world number 35 wins the point at the second time of asking, before some wonderful forehand shots from Nadal brings the game to 30-30. Nadal defends well during the next rally, but smashes the ball long while trying to win the point, and another wide return gives the Klizan the game. Nadal will now serve for the set.

Nadal claims the second set in emphatic style, serving up two aces on his way to winning the final game. Both players cut out the number of unforced errors in the second set, while Nadal seemed to be getting much more power in both his serve and forehand. A slight dip in energy from the Spaniard allowed Klizan to keep the set alive a little longer, but ultimately it was a comfortable set for the defending champion.

Klizan serves first in the third set, with Nadal slicing his backhand wide. The Slovakian catches the net chord during a lengthy rally, but he gets lucky and manages to claim the point with Nadal's forehand getting stuck at the net. Some swift footwork from both players sees Klizan clinch another long rally, and he clinches the game when Nadal slices his return wide. That was a lively opening game to this third set.

Nadal starts the game well, but Klizan unleashes a massive amount of power to smash a forehand past the third seed. However, a couple of long balls ensures that Nadal holds the game, but Klizan is looking dangerous again.

BREAK! Nadal makes Klizan work hard to get to 40-30, but the Spaniard gets a lucky contact with the net chord to take the game to deuce. Klizan serves his first double fault of the match to give Nadal a chance to break. A long rally comes to an end when Klizan hits the net and the ball bounces wide, giving Nadal the game.

Klizan is on the attack at the start of the game, sending down a pacy forehand before rushing into the net to volley. He tries another shot from the net later in the game but Nadal reacts superbly to lob the ball past the Slovakian, leaving him racing back to baseline, but he doesn't get there in time. Nadal finds his fifth ace of the match and seals the game when Klizan fails to get his drop-shot attempt over the net.

Klizan races to a 40-15 lead, adding another ace along the way, and he seals the game with a well-placed volley from close into the net. Nadal may be a break up in this set, but Klizan is making the third seed work hard for it.

Nadal makes a couple of mistakes at the start of the game, as he forehand drifts wide in the opening points, before a lackluster backhand find the net. A long rally sees both players try to dominate from the baseline, but Klizan changes is up with a drop shot, and Nadal can't reach it in time, giving the Slovakian two break points. A volley from the Spaniard saves the first, before a long return from Klizan brings up deuce. A couple of poor shots from Klizan allow the third seed to take the game, and that could be costly for Klizan.

Klizan makes his second double fault of the match before a superb volley from Nadal puts the reigning champion in control of the game, but Klizan strikes back with a brilliant forehand stroke. However, another double fault gives Nadal a chance to break again, but the world number four hits the ball into the net. A wonderful shot down the sideline gives Klizan advantage, and he seals the game when Nadal fires his shot long. That's the first time in this match that Klizan has managed to save a break point.

Nadal struggles with his first serve at the start of the game but is still able to get the better of Klizan in the rally. Klizan mis-hits his forehand, pulling the stroke well wide, and Nadal seals the game with a big serve. Nadal is just one game from a 2-1 lead in this match.

A couple of basic errors from the Slovakian give Nadal a 30-0 lead, before the world number 35 hits the net, giving the Spaniard three set points, but the third seed needs just one, clinching the third set with a cross-court forehand shot.

Klizan's energy levels seemed to crash in the final couple of games of the set. He's also been a lot more vocal, letting out cries of disappointment when missing shots. Nadal will sense that he should be able to wrap this match up shortly.

Nadal makes a quick start to the third set, taking a 40-0 lead, but some attacking tennis from Klizan sees him steal a point back. However, some superb forehands from the back of the court followed by a volley at the net give Nadal the game.

BREAK! An unlucky bounce costs Klizan the opening point, but he responds with a big serve down the centre of the court, which Nadal is unable to return. A double fault puts Nadal back ahead before he finds the net with a forehand to give the Spaniard two break points, but the defending champion sends his forehand to the net. Nadal clinches the game on the next points though, with the net catching Klizan out again.

BREAK! A series of big forehands help Klizan to a strong start as he looks to break back, winning the first two points of the game. The Slovakian wins a lengthy exchange of ground strokes to leave Nadal facing three break points. A mis-hit from Klizan allows Nadal to save the first, but a superb cross-court effort seals the game for the world number 35, and gets the fourth set back on serve.

BREAK! A delicate volley gets Nadal off to a good start before he fires a brilliant backhand down the right-hand side of the court. Klizan ups the power to bring the game back to 30-30, but finds the net again to give Nadal a break point, which he converts when the Slovakian slices his forehand wide.

Klizan is making this far too easy for the defending champion, as Nadal quickly takes a 40-0 lead. A good forehand from the Slovakian keeps him in the game a little longer, before a wild forehand, aided by the strengthening wind around the court, hit from Nadal lands well out the court, but he seals the game off the next point with a drop shot.

BREAK! Klizan dives in for an attempt at a volley, but he doesn't get to the net in time. Nadal's increased tempo catches the Slovakian out as he fires his next two forehands well long, giving Nadal three break points. He takes the game with the next point, as Klizan fails to find the baseline with his forehand yet again.

BREAK! Klizan shows impressive pace and determination to earn three break points against Nadal's serve. He wraps up the game with a brilliant cross-court forehand, as he extends this second-round clash for at least another game.

Klizan may look well out of this match now, but he hasn't given up. He's tried some adventurous shots in this fourth set. Unfortunately it's not worked out for him, but it's been great to see him having a go.

Nadal has a match point.

Klizan has saved it! A brilliant rally from both players ends with Nadal hitting the net.

Nadal snatches the first two points for the game, but a superbly-placed ace gets Klizan back in the game, before Nadal fires the ball long. Nadal eventually earns a match point but Klizan saves, before finding two big serves to clinch the game. Great resilience from the Slovakian.

Nadal has two match points on his own serve.

Well it was harder than it should have been, but the defending champion, Rafael Nadal, is through to the third round in four sets. He'll face Fabio Fognini next.

It was a good performance from Klizan, he never gave up, even when 5-1 down in the fourth set, and played superbly to take the first set.

That's all from this match, but stick with Sports Mole for live commentaries from Roger Federer and Serena Williams' matches, with both due to get underway shortly. Thanks for joining me for this match, good bye.