Live Commentary: Novak Djokovic vs. Jarkko Nieminen - as it happened

Good afternoon! World number one Novak Djokovic will be heading out to the Philippe Chatrier court shortly as he begins his French Open campaign with a first-round tie against Finland's Jarrko Nieminen.

The French Open title is the only Grand Slam event that is missing from Djokovic's impressive tennis CV. He's reached the final twice in the last three years, losing on both occasions to Rafael Nadal, and has only twice in 10 attempts failed to make the last eight. If he reaches the last eight this time around, there's a good chance it will be Nadal who he faces.

Before Djokovic can start thinking about the quarter-finals though, he must turn his attention to the world number 87. Nieminen has only played Djokovic four times before, winning just once. Djokovic has won their only two matches on clay, including the most recent meeting between the pair at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2013.

The French Open is the only Grand Slam that Nieminen has never reached the quarter-finals of. Despite that, four of his five ATP titals have come on clay, including the Argentina Open just a couple of months ago. His best tennis has generally eluded him at Roland Garros though, as he's only been past the third round once in 2003, and has been knocked out in the second round for the last three years. He'll need a big performance today if he's to make the second round this year though.

Djokovic has just made his way out of the locker room and onto the court, closely followed by Nieminen. It's a little quiet around Chatrier at the moment, with Rafael Nadal having just finished his match on the same court. Once the warm-ups are out of the way though, the crowd will surely come rushing back in to see the world number one in action.

Nadal isn't the only player that has already been in action today, with Petra Kvitova, Marin Cilic and Caroline Wozniacki all booking their spots in round two. If you want to catch up on today's action, you can find all of our match reports here.

It's been a bit overcast in Paris so far today, but it's starting to brighten up and getting a little warmer around Roland Garros. It doesn't look like there's any danger of rain either, and temperatures should remain around 19C for this match.

The players have just finished their warmups, and it looks like it's going to be Nieminen to serve first this afternoon.

BREAK! Nieminen makes an aggressive start, coming into the net early on to volley past the world number one. Djokovic tries to get his slice going early on, but he can't get it past the net to leave his opponent 40-15 ahead. The top seed keeps the gme alive with a superb forehand to the baseline though, before bringing up deice with stroke down the sideline. There's an early chance for the Serb to break as he gets the better of Nieminen with an exchange from the back of the court, and he seals it with a looping cross-court forehand. What a start by the world number one!

Djokovic quickly recovers from a sloppy forehand, forcing a couple of wayward returns from his Finnish opponent. Nieminen fires his backhand long to give the top seed a 40-15 lead, but Djokovic tries a little too hard to wrap the game up quickly, allowing Nieminen back into the game at deuce. The world number 87 can't bring up a break point though, as he twice hits the ball long to allow Djokovic to hold. It's not a perfect first service game from the world number one, but he gets the job done.

Djokovic looks like he's starting to hit his stride now as he comes inside the baseline to unleash a venomous forehand to the back corner. He's too aggressive on the next point though as he senses another chance to break, slicing his backhand wide before a forehand gives the Finn the lead in the game, and he wraps it up with a well-timed forehand to finally get on the board in this opening set.

Djokovic opens the game with the first ace of the match before coming inside the baseline again to hit a superb overhead forehand smash. Another ace quickly brings up 40-0 for the top seed, but Nieminen keeps himself in the game with a couple of solid returns, forcing errors from the Serb. As Djokovic continues to experiment with his shots, Nieminen manages to get the game back to deuce, but a couple of well-executed backhands wrap it up for Djokovic.

Nieminen shows incredible pace around the court as he rushes in to the net for a volley, only to see it returns to the baseline by Djokovic. To the crowd's amazement, the Finn sprints back in time to hit an excellent forehand down the sideline to claim the point. An uncharacteristic sloppy backhand from Djokovic allows the world number 87 to wrap the game up on the next point with another stunning forehand winner. The Finn may have made a slow start, dropping his serve in the opening game of the set, but he's recovered well. Whether or not he can get the break back though is another matter.

Both players are really hitting the ball well now, resulting in an entertaining exchange which is ended by an unlucky strike on the net for Djokovic. He edges back ahead in the game though with a powerful serve, before clinching the game when Nieminen hits his forehand wide. The top seed is still yet to face a break point.

BREAK! Nieminen's focus seems to have dropped, allowing Djokovic to attack on the return, forcing three long balls in a row from the Finn to bring up a chance for a double break for the Serb. Nieminen sprints along the baseline to try to keep himself in the game, but Djokovic hits another potent overhead smash to secure the game. He'll be serving for the set next.

SET! Djokovic wraps up the set with ease, hitting his third ace of the set at the start of the game before a couple of weak returns from Nieminen bring up set points, and the Serb takes it when his opponent fires long. The scoreline seems a little harsh on Nieminen, who played some excellent tennis in the middle of the set, but it looks like Djokovic is a clinical as ever.

Nieminen makes a bright start to the second set, stretching Djokovic along the baseline to force a run of errors from the top seed. At 40-0 up, the Finn's forehand fails to clear the net, but Djokovic makes the same mistake on the next point to hand his opponent a comfortable hold of serve.

It's a solid first service game of the set from Djokovic as he delivers a couple of big serve at the start of the game, forcing poor returns from Nieminen. A forehand down the line hands Djokovic a third point in a row, before a wayward backhand from the world number 87 gives Djokovic the game.

Djokovic certainly hasn't been as aggressive on the return at the start of this second set as Nieminen fires a backhand past the top seed before a wide backhand from Djokovic leaves the Finn 30-15 up. The Serb senses a chance when he slices a cross-court backhand past his opponent, but Nieminen wraps it up when Djokovic hits his forehand into the net.

BREAK! Nieminen senses an opportunity when Djokovic misses his first serve at 15-15, allowing the Finn to attack from inside the baseline, forcing the world number one to miss his forehand. A well-struck forehand from Nieminen on the next point gives the 33-year-old his first break point of the match, and he takes it with a simply breathtaking backhand right down the sideline. What a superb game from Nieminen!

Djokovic is really struggling to read the newly-aggressive Nieminen at the moment, as some potent serving from the world number 87 leaves Djokovic unable to get his returns in. At 40-15 down, the top seed tries to catch Nieminen out with a low forehand, but it fails to clear the net. The Finn is in complete control of this second set, but it can all change very quickly.

Djokovic is just about keeping himself in this set at the minute as Nieminen has really raised his game in the last 15 minutes or so and the result is some astonishing tennis. The Finn comes into the net again, which has been a pretty successful tactic so far, and he hits a string of quick-fire volleys, bringing up a chance for a double break when Djokovic hits the ball into the net. The world number one brings up deuce with a well-hit volley though, before Nieminen breaks a string while going for a backhand. An ace gives Djokovic another chance to clinch the game, and he takes it when Nieminen hits his forehand long. That's a big let-off for the top seed.

Djokovic looks frustrated as he hits a return well wide to give Nieminen a 40-15 lead, and another wayward forehand from the top seed leaves the Finn just a game from leveling the match up. Djokovic looks perplexed as he makes his way back to his seat for the change of ends. He looked comfortable in the first set, but had lost his edge in the last five games or so.

So Nieminen will have to try to serve out the set as Djokovic battles to a hold of serve. The Finn returns superbly to try to give himself a chance in this game, but an ace down the centre of the court followed by a wide return from Nieminen hands the top seed the game.

BREAK! Nieminen starts the game well, using a couple of big serve to take a 30-0 lead. Djokovic fights back though, attacking from the back of the court to level the game before a stunning cross-court forehand gives him a chance to break back. A long rally ensues, but it's Djokovic who comes out on top when Nieminen just forces his forehand long. That could be a costly game for Nieminen to lose.

Djokovic looks more confident as he serves to keep himself in the set for a second time. Nieminen can't get his returns in as the top seed quickly takes a 30-0 lead, before a backhand error and a long forehand hand the Serb the game. It's not all square in the second set, with Djokovic having won three games in a row.

BREAK! Nieminen responds well to Djokovic's fightback at the start of the game, hitting a couple of superb forehands before coming into the net for a smash, racing to a 40-0 lead. He tries a similar shot in a big to wrap up the game, but hits the ball into the net, before a weak backhand gifts Djokovic another point after a lengthy exchange of groundstrokes. Nieminen slides around behind the baseline as he tries to wrap up the game at the third time of asking, but a forehand to the back of the court from Djokovic brings up deuce. The world number one has a chance to go a break up for the first time in this second set with another forehand winner on the next point, and he takes it when Nieminen scuffs the ball into the net. What a blow for the Finn, he looked like he was in complete control of that game, but Djokovic appears to be back to his best after a bit of a mid-set lull. Having been 4-1 and 5-2 down, Djokovic will be serving for the set next.

SET! Djokovic really had to dig deep to secure the set, but he completes a remarkable turnaround with a comfortable hold of serve. An ace gave the top seed a 30-0 lead, while his remaining serves all went unreturned by the world number 87. Nieminen must be wondering what more he could have done in that set.

BREAK! Djokovic looks like he's in a hurry now as Nieminen slices a couple of shots into the net before a wayward backhand gives the top seed an early chance to break. The world number one doesn't need to be asked twice, as he comes inside the baseline to pounce on a short ball from the Finn, punching it into the back corner.

Just as it looks like Djokovic is back to his best and Nieminen is starting to tire, it looks like it's all changed again. Nieminen hits a couple of excellent forehands to brings up a couple of break points. The top seed saves the first with a punchy forehand winner, before a smash brings up deuce. Djokovic ups the pace on his serve, forcing a couple of returns to the net from his opponent, allowing him to escape with his serve in tact. Djokovic will have to serve better than that though if he's to quickly wrap this third set up.

BREAK! Nieminen hits his first ace of the match to claim the first point of the game, while Djokovic volleys wide to give the world number 87 a 30-0 lead, but Djokovic quickly levels with a backhand down the sideline. The Serb isn't put off by missing a volley earlier in the game as he comes in again for another attempt, bringing up a break point, but Nieminen saves with a powerful backhand. Djokovic eventually wraps it up though, using all of his pace behind the baseline to set up a wonderful forehand winner. Djokovic still doesn't look at his best, but he's cruising towards a spot in round two now.

It looks like Nieminen's legs have gone as the top seed eases a backhand to the back corner before floating a forehand over the Finn, forcing him to fire wide. Nieminen midread's the Serb's slower second serve, turning it into the crowd, before a backhand off the next point goes long, handing Djokovic another game.

Nieminen makes sure that he avoids a 6-0 in what looks certain to be the final set of the match as he serves well, finding the corners to force some poor returns from Djokovic, while also throwing in an excellent forehand to the sideline to secure his first game of the third set.

Djokovic is absolutely coasting now as he watches his first two serves returned to the net before hitting a looping forehand past his opponent before another Nieminen return goes long. The world number one is just a game off a spot in the second round now.

Djokovic doesn't want to wait for his own service game to wrap his up as he comes into the net to attack the Finn's serve, bringing up 30-30. Nieminen sportingly gives Djokovic the benefit of the doubt when a forehand from the top seed is called wide, with the world number 87 insisting that it got the line. The Serb quickly makes the most of his second chance, hitting a forehand down the line to bring up a match point, but Nieminen fights to keep himself in the match. The world number one brings up a second match point, but a drop shot falls short to take the game back to deuce. After saving yet another match points, Nieminen finally gets advantage when Djokovic hits his backhand wide, and the 33-year-old uses every remaining ounce of energy to force another mistake from the top seed, leaving Djokovic to try to serve it out next.

Well, Nieminen certainly made Djokovic work for it in the final game, but after just over two hours on court, the top seed has secured his spot in the second round at Roland Garros. What a time for the first double fault of the match though. Djokovic's serving accuracy deserts him early in the final game to give Nieminen a 30-15 lead, before a wild mis-hit gives the Finn a chance to get a break back. Djokovic ups the power on his serve to save the break, before coming into the net to punch a forehand winner for a fourth match point, and this time he managed to convert.
© Getty Images

Djokovic will have to wait to find out who he'll play in the second rounds, as Gilles Muller's clash with Paolo Lorenzi is only just getting underway.

That's all from this match, but check out our French Open page for all the latest results and reaction, with Serena Williams among the big names still to play today. Thanks for joining me this afternoon. Goodbye.