Thiem took over where he left off in New York

After just over two hours, the Austrian put the match ball and could breathe out and feel that the timing on the gravel was intact from the hardcourt in New York.

- I did not want to lose too much tension after my victory in New York and I am really happy with how I did it, really happy with my first round, says Thiem to the organizer after having a break of two weeks.

"Like when I was a junior"

It was semi-chilly with a 12-13 degrees when Thiem played.

- The transition to gravel and the cold conditions worked well.

I love these conditions because I'm from Austria.

When I was a junior, I always competed when it was 10-15 degrees and I love when it does not go so fast, says Thiem who in the next round will face the American qualifier Jack Sock.

Thiem, who thrives best on gravel, is third-seeded in the tournament and has lost the final to second-seeded Rafael Nadal, twelve titles in Paris, the last two years.

In Paris, they follow the ranking completely and world setter Novak Djokovic is seeded number one but has only one title in Paris.