PARIS — Stretched to five sets for the first time in 40 career French Open matches, top-seeded Rafael Nadal came back to emerge with a 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-4 victory over unseeded American John Isner and reach the second round.

It was the most riveting match of a day that featured reigning U.S. Open and Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters’ first appearance at the French Open since 2006, a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Anastasiya Yakimova. Also advancing were Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Andy Murray, Robin Soderling and Sam Querrey.

Two seeded women lost: No. 20 Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 champion, was eliminated 7-6 (3), 0-6, 6-2 by Johanna Larsson of Sweden, while No. 22 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia was beaten 6-7 (10), 6-3, 6-2 by Vania King of the U.S. No. 11 Nicolas Almagro departed with a five-set loss to Lukasz Kubot.