Andy Murray survived a five-set scare to claim the first win of his career at the French Open.

The British No 1 was outplayed for long periods of his first-round match against 17-year-old Jonathan Eysseric, the French wild card, before eventually triumphing 6-2, 1-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.

Murray had missed last year’s tournament with a wrist injury after having lost in the first round in 2006 against Gael Monfils. But the Scot will have to improve considerably if he is to progress further on a surface which he is struggling to master.

Murray surrendered far too many points with his inability to execute the drop shot while his first serve percentage was also poor.

He took the first set easily enough as the teenager, who has played futures and challengers events only this season, struggled to control his nerves.

But Eysseric, 18 on Tuesday and the youngest man in the draw, then began to show why he is tipped to be a force on clay. He might be the third lowest-ranked men’s player here at number 387 in the world but it did not look that way as he broke Murray’s serve in the second game of the second set, the Scot dumping a weak forehand into the net.

Eysseric was growing in confidence and the Murray mistakes began to flow and he broke the Scot’s serve again in the sixth game and then served out to take the set.

It was the signal for Murray to worry and that is exactly what he did, his game lacking aggression and penetration and Eysseric was full value for the third set despite taking a medical time-out for treatment on his calves.

The youngster’s stamina clearly needs some attention and Murray’s superior power saw him safely through the fourth set.

Even in the fifth set Murray struggled to put Eysseric away, losing serve at 5-1 when attempting to close out the match. His superior experience finally told in the next game when he broke the French youngster’s serve, Eysseric punching a volley long to give Murray the toughest of first-round victories.