Indian tennis player Prajnesh Gunneswaran overcame a sluggish start to advance to the second round of the French Open men's singles qualifying event but country's top player Sumit Nagal bowed out after a close defeat, here on Monday.

Seeded 16th, Nagal -- who became the first Indian in seven years to win a singles match at a Grand Slam with his opening round victory at the US Open --- lost 6-7 (4) 5-7 to Germany's seasoned player Dustin Brown in one hour and 47 minutes.