PARIS (AP) ― Rafael Nadal knows this story well. All too well. Saw it up close the previous time he played in a major tournament.

Early round, main stadium, unknown opponent taking risky swings and putting everything in. At Wimbledon nearly a year ago, it was 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol who took it to Nadal and beat him in the second round. At the French Open on Monday, in Nadal’s return to Grand Slam action after missing seven months with knee trouble, it was 59th-ranked Daniel Brands in the guest-star role.

Like Rosol, Brands is 6-foot-5 and lanky. And for one whole set and most of the next during a first-round match in Court Philippe Chatrier, against the most successful man in Roland Garros history, it worked.

Nadal already owns a record seven French Open titles, including the past three. His bid to become the only man with eight championships at any of tennis’ quartet of most important tournaments got off to a slow start, before he restored order by coming back to beat a faltering Brands 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3.