PARIS – Canadian Jesse Levine was eliminated from the French Open on Monday, falling 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 to Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the first round.

The 90th-ranked Levine, who recently switched allegiances to play for Canada after representing the U.S., ends his brief spring clay season with a 0-2 record at the ATP level after qualifying for the Madrid Masters.

The Ottawa-born Levine was playing at Roland Garros for the second time and stands 1-2 for his career at the venue after winning a round a year ago.

He had a brief flicker of hope early as he earned the first break of the match for a 3-1 lead in the opening set. But the 13th-seeded Nishikori quickly regained control in the next game.

“We know each other pretty well,” said Levine. “Kei might have been a bit nervous at the start, he was not playing like himself at all.

“He then played a good game to break me, once he gets on a roll, I know I’m in trouble. His level is higher than mine and I’m not used to his kind of pace.”

Levine said he needs to work with his coach to raise his game.

“I hit what I think is a good shot and it comes right back and me and ends up hurting me,” he said. “That’s something I need to work on, I’ll be discussing it with my coach. Kei played well, credit to him today.”

Levine was not helped by five double-faults and losing serve eight times in the 90-minute match. Levine managed nine winners to 26 for Nishikori and was burdened by 33 unforced errors.

Montreal’s Eugenie Bouchard makes her Grand Slam main draw debut against Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova later Monday.

The No.77 Canadian is coming off a first WTA semifinal on clay in Strasbourg, where she lost to Alize Cornet of France.