Former champion Justine Henin-Hardenne survived stubborn resistance from Spain's Conchita Martinez to win 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 and reach the second round of the French Open.

The 10th-seeded Belgian barely broke into a sweat during a clinical first set, which she romped through in 19 minutes.

But just as it looked as though the 2003 champion was heading towards a swift victory, the 33-year-old Martinez came to life in the first game of the second set.

The pair became embroiled in a psychological tussle as break points and game points were won and lost, with both refusing to give an inch on an overcast Philippe Chatrier court.

Henin-Hardenne finally gained the breakthrough to win her seventh game on the trot -- a game that, at 21 minutes, lasted longer than the first set.

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The battle appeared to have taken its toll on Henin-Hardenne, who spent much of 2004 on the sidelines after struggling with an energy-sapping viral illness and she went on to drop her serve for the first time in the match in the next game.

With former Wimbledon [Images] champion Martinez finally opening her account, the Spaniard displayed some of the form that also carried her into the 2000 French Open final. She frustrated Henin-Hardenne with dogged baseline tactics to level the match at a set apiece.

However, having beaten Martinez in each of their previous six meetings, the Belgian refused to relinquish her perfect record against a player making her 18th appearance at the claycourt grand slam.

The 22-year-old kept her wits about her despite losing two match points while leading 5-1 on Martinez's serve.

Martinez rattled Henin-Hardenne further by breaking her when she was serving for the match in the next game.

The triple grand slam winner finally clinched victory on her third match point with a scorching forehand winner, ending the contest after two hours 16 minutes.

Throwing her arms up in the air in relief, Henin-Hardenne gave her verdict to the cheering fans with a thumbs up as she left the stadium.

The Belgian will next meet either Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual or Belarussian qualifier Anastasiya Yakimova.

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