Live Commentary: Nicolas Almagro vs. Rafael Nadal - as it happened

Good afternoon! Defending champion and sixth seed Rafael Nadal will be making his way out to Court Philippe Chatrier shortly as he prepares to face fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who is currently ranked 154th in the world.

Almagro was as high as 13th in the world less than two years ago, but a run of injuries and poor results has sent him tumbling down the rankings. He's faced Nadal 13 times before, with his only victory coming on clay at last year's Barcelona Open.

Nadal has not been his usual unbeatable self on clay this year, which means that he is only seeded sixth at an event that he has only failed to win once in 10 attempts. He knows that if he's to defend his crown at Roland Garros this year, he'll likely have to beat world number one Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, before a potential last four clash with Andy Murray, who recently beat him on clay for the first time.

Almagro's previous performances at Roland Garros are somewhat more modest than his opponent's. The Spaniard is a three-time quarter-finalist, losing all three of his last-eight appearances to Nadal. Aside from those three quarter-finals though, he's only been past the second round twice, and lost in the first round last year. This is actually the first time that Almagro has been past the first round of a Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2013, although he has missed three of the seven held since then with injuries.

Nadal will certainly be keen to get on with this. As well as knowing that he has some tough matches to come, there's rain forecast this afternoon. Nadal's game suits warm, dry conditions, so a shower would play into Almagro's hands.

The players have been on the court for a couple of minutes. The crowd is a little sparce at the moment, with a few people taking a break after Caroline Wozniacki's shock exit on this court a short time ago. No doubt it will start filling up once the defending champion has finished his warmup.

Right then, the warmups are complete, and it's Almagro to serve first after winning the pre-match coin toss.

Nadal wastes no time bringing up the first break points of the match, returning superbly with his backhand before a poor forehand down the line from Almagro gives the sixth seed a 40-15 lead. Almagro responds well with an excellent cross-court backhand winner to save the first, before Nadal sends his own forehand into the net to take the game to deuce. Almagro digs deep to find a couple of big serves though, leaving Nadal unable to get his returns in. Almagro is definitely lucky to have escaped with his serve intact.

The first point of the match on Nadal's serve goes to the defending champions' opponent as Almagro steps inside the baseline to blast his forehand down the sideline. While leading 30-15, Almagro senses a chance to put Nadal under pressure, smashing a backhand to the back corner, but it's just long. The world number 154 does bring up the break point though, as a Nadal shot at the net goes wide, but the nine-time champion responds with an ace on the next point, before punching a forehand to the baseline for advantage. Almagro hands Nadal the game when a deep serve from his compatriot forces him to squeeze his return wide. Both players have had to work hard to hold their opening games, but so far it's still on serve.

BREAK! Nadal's returning is just flawless as he forces three long forehands in a row from Almagro to give himself another chance to get an early break in this first set. Almagro hits a solid backhand winner to save the first, but he can't match Nadal's groundstrokes to get back into the game, with the defending champion claiming it with a stunning backhand.

It's a much more comfortable service game from the sixth seed this time around as his first three serves are all returned to the net to give him a quick 40-0 lead, before a long backhand hands Nadal an easy hold. That's more the kind of game that had been expected from the defending champion last time.

Almagro looks like he's starting to settle after a difficult first two service games. The Spaniard forces a couple of wayward returns from Nadal before wrapping up the game with a well-struck forehand down the line.

Nadal's struggling to get his first serves in at the moment, but it doesn't seem to be too much of a hinderence for the nine-time Roland Garros winner. Almagro still struggles to return the second serve, while a potent forehand gives Nadal a 40-0 lead. However, the sixth seed lets his opponent back into the game with a wide forehand followed by a rare double fault. He finds his serving form just in time though, whacking the ball deep to force a wide return from his compatriot to clinch the game.

Almagro certainly isn't giving Nadal any easy points at the moment as he ups the power on his serve, forcing Nadal to return wide before firing his first ace of the match down the middle of the court. A long forehand briefly gives Nadal hope, but he can't get his backhand back over the net on the next point, giving his opponent a comfortable hold.

Nadal is still having difficulties with his first serve, which is making it difficult for him to close out his games at the moment. He's more confident going for it on second serve early in the game, setting up a 40-15 lead. However, he's more cautious while trying to clinch the game, giving Almagro the chance to come in from the baseline as rifle a couple of winners past the defending champion to bring up deuce. While his serve is still lacking, Nadal's forehand has been working well, and he uses that to see out the game. Almagro will now have to serve to stay in the set.

A run of unforced errors from Almagro brings up a set point for Nadal, but he can't make the most of it as Almagro gets the better of him in a baseline rally, sending a looping forehand cross court. A lacklustre slice from Almagro gives the defending champion another chance though, but once again he saves it, before giving himself a chance to close the game out with a big serve, but his backhand was long on the next point. Eventually, Almagro brings up another advantage, and this time he wraps it up with a spectacular backhand from the baseline, landing it just inside the opposite corner. That was an important game for Almagro to win, keeping the opening set close, but Nadal will be serving for it next.

SET! Nadal serves well at the start of the game, leaving his opponent struggling with his returns as the sixth seed races to a 40-15 lead for another couple of set points. Almagro saves the first, forcing Nadal to slice a backhand into the net, but the defending champion secures the second with a punchy forehand winner. It's not been completely straight-forward for Nadal, but he's a set up after just over 50 minutes on court.

Here's the defending champion in action as he wrapped up that opening set:

Defending champ Rafa #Nadal serves out the 1st set 6-4. He's looking to record 19th match win on clay for the year. pic.twitter.com/kGNEfh9ulM

— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2015

As with the first game of the first set, Nadal has an immediate chance to get a break on the board as the sixth seed slots a forehand into the back corner. A low backhand from Nadal brings up deuce, but the defending champions quickly brings up another chance to seal the opening game of the set, and some aggressive shots from the back of the court from Nadal forces an error from his compatriot. That's just the start Nadal would have wanted.

Nadal's first serve is return to the net, while an ace puts the sixth seed 30-15 up. Almagro fights hard to try to keep himself in contention, attacking at the net to force an error from the sixth seed, but a couple of wayward backhands from the world number 154 hand Nadal the game.

Nadal looks like he could be on his way towards a second break as he returns brilliantly to secure the first two points of the game, but Almagro shows that he has plenty of fight left in him as he delivers some powerful serves, forcing a run of returns to the net from the sixth seed. That could be an important hold for Almagro is he's to stand any chance in this second set.

Nadal certainly seems to be serving with a lot more confidence at the start of the game than he had in the first set, as he's getting a lot more of his first serves in now. He quickly opens up a 40-15 lead, but Almagro makes him work for the hold, making a sensational sliced backhand from behind the baseline, which seems to shake the sixth seed as he makes his second double fault of the match to take the game to deuce. Almagro is really pulling out the show-stopping shots to try to get the set back on serve, threading a forehand down the sideline to give himself a break point, but a lengthy rally results in the game heading back to deuce when Almagro puts too much on his forehand. Nadal manages to up his game just at the right time, securing the hold with a well-timed backhand.

Almagro is unhappy with a line call which gives him his first double fault of the match, and puts Nadal ahead in the game. He keeps his composure though, channelling his anger with a couple of excellent serves to take the game.

Nadal is looking far from his consistent best on serve as he follows up a smash with an unforced wide backhand, before saving a break point with an ace. At deuce, Nadal hits a stunning forehand, but a well-placed backhand from Almagro on the next point forces Nadal to fire long. Almagro wants to give himself another chance to break the sixth seed, attempting a backhand volley, but he can only smash it into the net, allowing Nadal to clinch the game on the next point when his opponent fires long. Nadal has looked comfortable in very few of his service games so far, but he's still yet to be broken.

BREAK! Almagro has been making it incredibly difficult for Nadal to take his own games, but now he's under pressure on his own serve as he tries too hard to hit the ball past the defending champion, resulting in a string of unforced errors. Almagro saves the first break point with a solid serve, leaving Nadal to return the ball to the net, but another mistake hands the sixth seed the game on the next point. Nadal will be serving for the set next.

BREAK! Well, Almagro is determined not to make it easy for Nadal today, and he makes some stunning returns to give himself three break points. Nadal tries to put his opponent under pressure with a big serve, but his compatriot makes another good return, giving him the game as Nadal slices the ball into the net. That's the first time Nadal has dropped serve, but Almagro will still have to hold next to prevent the defending champion from wrapping up the set.

SET! Nadal is working hard behind the baseline, covering the entire width of the court as he tries to wrap the set up. His tenacity forces a long forehand from Almagro, bringing up two set points. The world number 154 saves the first with an ace, but the sixth seed comes into the net on the next point, forcing another error from his compatriot.

So Nadal needs just another set to secure his spot in the third round. The defending champion definitely hasn't played his best tennis so far today, but has managed to raise his game just when it matters to get breaks when it matters. Almagro is certainly making it difficult, but just doesn't seem to be able to apply pressure for a sustained period of time.

Fresh from the euphoria of winning the second set, Nadal seems to have fallen a little flat on serve again, allowing Almagro to get on the offensive early on. Almagro comes inside the baseline to attack Nadal's second serve, forcing a wide forehand from the sixth seed, bringing up a break point. Nadal saves it though, hitting a forehand with some ferocity to bring up deuce. Two big serves from the nine-time champion allow Nadal to cling onto the game. It's a shaky start to the set for Nadal!

BREAK! Nadal looks so much more comfortable returning than on serve this afternoon, and he gets the breakthrough early on in the third set. Almagro fights back from 30-0 down, but an excellent Nadal backhand gives him a break point, before Almagro makes another unforced error. The mistake have been creeping up from the world number 154 in the last few games, and they're starting to get rather costly.

Nadal finally puts in a clinical service game as he cruises towards a straight sets win. The champion is starting to get more of his first serves in, and it makes a difference as Almagro's returns don't test the sixth seed, allowing him to secure a comfortable hold with a powerful forward just inside the baseline.

BREAK! It looks like Almagro's fight has deserted him as Nadal continues to attack his fellow Spaniard's serve, giving himself a chance for a double break when he slots a forehand into the corner. Almagro tries to do similar to save the game, but he sends it just wide.

It's a poor start to the game for Nadal as he makes another double fault; that's his third of the afternoon. Almagro is also struggling to keep the errors down though, making a couple of sloppy returns to keep the sixth seed in the game at 30-30. Nadal misses his first serve again, but Almagro gets an unlucky bounce of the net chord to take his backhand wide. He makes amends with a an excellent backhand before rifling a forehand down the line to give himself a chance to get one of the breaks back, but a high ball allows Nadal to smash the ball back, taking the game back to deuce. After surviving another break point, Nadal gives himself advantage with an ace, before hitting another to clinch the game. That's now six games in a row for Nadal, and he needs just one more to progress to the third round.

Well, Almagro will at least avoid the dreaded bagel in the third set as he puts in a solid serve game, sealing it with a powerful forehand. It leaves Nadal serving for the match next.

Nadal saves his best service game of the match until the end it seems, delivering some excellent serves to wrap the game up to love and progress to round three. Almagro certainly provided a stern test, but the defending champion game through in the end to keep his quest for a 10th Roland Garros title alive.

Up next for Nadal will be the winner of the match between Jurgen Melzer and Andrey Kuznetsov. It looks like it will be the latter, as he is currently two sets up.

That's all from this match, but you can catch up with all of the action from Roland Garros today on our dedicated French Open page. Stick around too for live coverage of Andy's Murray second-round clash, which is coming up shortly. Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye!