In doing so, the 13-time champion is looking to join Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the 300-plus club when he faces French wildcard Corentin Moutet in the second round.

"It is a good start, of course," said Nadal after the win.

"I played good for a while, then [there were] things that I could do better and I need to do better.

"But it is a positive start, and that's given me a chance to have one more day of practice tomorrow and then another chance after tomorrow."

Nadal had spoken of a chronic foot injury that troubled him during a third-round defeat to Canada's Denis Shapovalov in Rome just 10 days ago.

However, the Spaniard looked in prime condition as he defeated Thompson, underlining his status as one of the men to beat on the clay in France.

Former French Open winner Stan Wawrinka went down to Moutet in what arguably the game of the day.

Moutet made the most of the home crowd as he beat the Swiss star 2-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 to reach the second round.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia also posted a convincing 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka in an hour and 58 minutes.

In doing so, the world number one secured his 82nd win in Paris, as he looks to equal Nadal’s men's singles Grand Slam record of 21 titles.

Former US Open winner Marin Čilić of Croatia defeated Hungarian Attila Balazs 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 to reach the second round.

American Taylor Fritz was made to work hard to beat Argentine qualifier Santiago Rodriguez Taverna in a five-set thriller.

The 13^th seed showed his superior skills in defeating Taverna 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to set a second-round meeting with Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles.

British stars Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans also reached the second round after recording straight-sets victories.

Norrie dispatched French wildcard Manuel Guinard 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 while Evans celebrated his first-ever win in Paris by defeating Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina 7-6, 6-4, 6-4.