World number one Roger Federer led a chorus of disapproval over the controversial decision to begin the French Open on a Sunday, the first time a Grand Slam has dropped its traditional Monday start.
The Swiss top seed, bidding to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slam titles, was furious that he was handed the task of opening the men's programme on the Philippe Chatrier Court.
"I like the idea of Sunday play because it's when people aren't working and they can come and watch some sport," said Federer who struggled to beat Argentinian qualifier Diego Hartfield 7-5, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 in testing, windy conditions.
"But I requested not to play on a Sunday so I wasn't happy.
"I didn't want to be the guy who started the tournament. I was preparing for a Monday start. I didn't like the idea."
Federer won't play his second round match until Wednesday when he faces either Colombia's Alejandro Fallo or Justin Gimelstob of the United States.
He believes that the delay could have a detrimental effect on the rhythm of players.
"I asked when I was going to play my second round match in case I win and they said Wednesday," said Federer.
"Maybe it might help me down the road, but had I lost today, I would have been very angry.
"I think it's just tricky. You play Sunday, first up. You feel as if the tournament hasn't already started and right away you are challenged. Full stadium, pressure. Then you have to wait.
"If you pass the first two rounds then obviously it's OK because you are in the rhythm.
"The Grand Slams don't listen to us as much as the other tournaments which is unfortunate."
Spain's Tommy Robredo, the seventh seed, was equally lukewarm about the Sunday start which has been introduced by the Roland Garros organisers to maximise crowd attendance.
Only six men's and six women's first round matches took place. "It's got its pros and cons," said Robredo after seeing off Tomas Zib of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. "There are only six matches and I don't think that's really fair for some.
"If my match had been five hours and five sets, I would have had two days to rest. If you have a two-hour match with three sets, you still get two days off.
"It's a bit unfair really. I need to be able to manage those two days because it's like starting a new tournament.
"When you have two or three days off, it can be a bit dangerous sometimes."
CHINA'S PENG LOOKS TO BUILD IN PARIS:
China's Peng Shuai hopes her form in Strasbourg, where she was runner-up to Czech world number 18 Nicola Vaidisova in her first tour final, will carry through to the French Open when she begins her campaign on Monday.
The 20-year-old from Hunan was beaten 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 in Strasbourg on Saturday, but believes her form is solid enough to give her a sound base against Russia's Elena Vesnina in the first round at Roland Garros here.
"I reached my first final and that is a good thing," Peng said. "Now I will forget about Saturday's loss and concentrate on the Grand Slams. I start in Paris on Monday, so I just have to rest and start to focus on that. I had a good week in Strasbourg."
Peng, the world number 70, has resurrected her game during this clay court season, winning consecutive matches for the first time this year two weeks ago in reaching the Prague semis. Last year, Peng was one of the fastest-rising players on the circuit, notching three Top 10 wins (including a stunner over Kim Clijsters in San Diego, the Belgian's only loss on summer hardcourts) and going as high as No 31, a record for China.
She is one of six players in the women's draw here. Li Na, the world number 39, who beat seventh-ranked Patty Schnyder in Berlin recently, faces American veteran Amy Frazier in the first round with Russian Anna Chakvetadze, the 27th seed, a possible second round opponent and eighth seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova likely to be waiting in the third round.
Zheng Jie, who beat Li to take the Estoril tournament this year and who reached the fourth round of the French Open two years ago, takes on French 23rd seed Tatiana Golovin in her opener.
Yan Zi takes on America's Jamea Jackson, Yuan Meng plays qualifier Julia Vakulenko of the Ukraine while Sun Tiantian meets Ekaterina Bychkova of Russia.
RESULTS FROM THE OPENING DAY (x denotes seeding):
MEN'S FIRST ROUND: Roger Federer (SUI x1) bt Diego Hartfield (ARG) 7-5, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2; Tommy Robredo (ESP x7) bt Tomas Zib (CZE) 6-4, 6-2, 6-2; Tim Henman (GBR) bt Kenneth Carlsen (DEN) 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
WOMEN'S FIRST ROUND: Amelie Mauresmo (FRA x1) bt Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) 6-4, 6-4; Marion Bartoli (FRA x25) bt Aurelie Vedy (FRA) 6-1, 6-0; Ai Sugiyama (JPN x22) bt Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) 6-7 (1/7), 6-0, 6-3; Dinara Safina (RUS x14) bt Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 6-3, 7-5; Iveta Benesova (CZE) bt Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 7-5, 6-3.
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