World number one Roger Federer of Switzerland cruised into the second round of the French Open on Monday with a straight-sets win over Israeli qualifier Dudi Sela.
The top seed, who has lost just two matches this season, won 6-1, 6-4, 6-0 in one hour and 29 minutes during a match that was interrupted for several minutes by rain.
The Australian Open champion advances to meet Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, who beat Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-3, for a place in the third round.
Federer has never got beyond the quarterfinals in Paris in six previous attempts, but he had far too much class for 20-year-old Sela, ranked 264th in the world and playing the first tour match of his career.
The 23-year-old Swiss player, bidding to become the sixth man to win all four grand slams, broke his young opponent in the fourth game and took the first set after 31 minutes.
Sela fought back in the second set, levelling for 4-4 as he broke the normally solid Federer serve twice. But Federer never lost a game after that, rolling off the next eight games to wrap up the tie.
”We had to play through sunshine, rain, wind and everything, which makes it tough. The balls were very slow after the rain,” said Federer. ”He was doing a lot of different things, you know. That makes it kind of difficult in the beginning to try to get the rhythm.
”I had a lot of problems in the beginning, but then I got into my stride.”
He added: ”I just wasn’t happy with a few of my forehands and I could have served better.
”But I felt good because I won the first set 6-1 and usually when I win the first set 6-1, I’m not going to lose the match.
”He was playing very freely but very inconsistent. One game was good; one game was bad. So it really shows he’s still quite young,” said Federer, who has now won 42 of his 44 matches in 2005.
Federer suffered a nightmare draw in Paris last year where he was beaten by Gustavo Kuerten in the third round. This year he will be happy to see teenagers Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet in the other half of the draw.
”I think you can at least relax a little bit. That kind of gives you confidence that if you play tough, you know, you should come through,” he added.
Impressive win for Nadal
Nadal’s dream of becoming the first man in 23 years to win the French Open on his debut got off to a flying start on Monday with an impressive first-round 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 win over Germany’s Lars Burgsmuller.
The 18-year-old Nadal, playing in his first Roland Garros, is looking to emulate Swedish great Mats Wilander, who clinched the title on his French Open bow in 1982.
The teenager has spent the spring constantly playing down talk of being the favourite in Paris despite clinching five clay-court titles in 2005, but he hammered home his credentials again on Monday, notching up his 18th win in a row.
”I don’t think I should be the favourite the way I played today,” said Nadal. ”I am the player who has won some of the last tournaments on clay. I’m 18 years old. I don’t think I have ever been a favourite. Roger Federer at Wimbledon is maybe a favourite, but on clay, everything is open.
”I am told at press conferences that I am favourite and that bothers me sometimes, because I tend to believe it and it puts pressure on me. It’s better to play when you’re not under pressure.”
Nadal showed no signs of first-day nerves against Burgsmuller, winning in one hour and 45 minutes to set up a second-round clash against Belgium’s Xavier Malisse.
The muscular fourth seed, playing in his now-customary three-quarter-length trousers, was forced to miss the 2003 French Open because of an elbow injury and then had to sit out the 2004 event due to a stress fracture in his left ankle.
Burgsmuller was never in with a chance as his approach of all-out assault on the Nadal game sparked 40 unforced errors while the Spaniard happily smashed 38 winners past him.
”It was not the best match I have ever played,” said Nadal, who is seeded to face Federer in the semifinals. ”Of course, when you play a grand slam, you are under more stress. I feel good and I only hope to improve.
”I need a little bit more confidence in my shots. I think the ball is a little bit strange. You have to adapt to the court.
”I felt a little more nervous than usual, but I wanted to look at this as just another match, with nothing special about it.”
The unassuming Nadal will be 19 on the day of the semifinals in Paris.
”I hope I will still be in Paris to celebrate my birthday because it is the day of the semifinals — but I might be home in Mallorca fishing,” he said.
Other results
World number one Lindsay Davenport (28) struggled in windy conditions on the Court Philippe Chatrier before advancing 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to the second round following a one-hour-44-minute battle with unseeded Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia.
Her best result at Roland Garros over the past 12 years has been a semifinal finish in 1998.
In the next round, she faces her first meeting with 18-year-old Peng Shuai of China, who earlier beat French wild card Mailyne Andrieux 6-0, 6-1.
Russian fourth seed Elena Dementieva, the 2004 runner-up, reached the second round on Monday with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic.
Dementieva now faces either Sanda Mamic of Croatia or American veteran Lisa Raymond for a place in the third round.
Thai star Tamarine Tanasugarn suffered a hammering on Monday when she fell in straight sets to Croatia’s Jelena Kostanic.
Kostanic (23) dismissed the 27-year-old from Bangkok 6-0, 6-1 after just less than an hour on court in blustery conditions.
”I didn’t play as bad as it seemed,” said Tanasugarn. ”I found it hard to find my rhythm. The score looked bad, but I had deuces in most of the games and couldn’t find a way to take my chances. I’m just glad I got one game instead of it being two 6-0s.”
Asian number one Paradorn Srichaphan squandered a first-set lead to lose 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 to Czech 16th-seed Radek Stepanek on Monday as his weaknesses on clay were once again exposed.
Carlos Moya, the 14th seed and 1998 champion, reached the second round on Monday with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win against fellow Spaniard Alberto Martin.
Moya now faces Czech qualifier Robin Vik for a place in the third round. — Sapa-AFP