The French Open started on a Sunday for the first time and nearly ended quickly for Maria Sharapova.
The former Wimbledon champion overcame a gimpy foot, a 5-2 deficit in the third set and three match points to beat Mashona Washington 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.
The match was the first since April 1 for Sharapova, who withdrew from two events leading up to Roland Garros because of a right ankle injury. Her movement was clearly hampered, even after a trainer re-wrapped the ankle following the second set.
But the 29-year-old Washington, who came into the tournament ranked 97th, failed to close out a win that would have been the biggest of her career. Sharapova won the final five games to limp into the second round.
”I was playing with pain, and I blocked it out somehow and started moving better, and she got a little bit tight,” Sharapova said. ”I knew I wouldn’t be playing 100%. I’m obviously not moving great.”
Roland Garros added a 15th day of play this year to extend into a third weekend, and neither Sharapova nor top-ranked Roger Federer was thrilled with the early start. Federer lost his first two service games to fall behind 3-0, then gradually found his form and beat qualifier Diego Hartfield 7-5, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
”I prefer easy matches,” Federer said.
Beginning his bid for the only Grand Slam title he has yet to win, Federer needed more than two hours to eliminate an Argentine making his tour-level debut. Like Sharapova, Federer said he asked not to play the first day, but officials turned him down.
”I didn’t want to be the guy who starts the tournament,” he said.
”You play Sunday, first up, you feel like the tournament hasn’t even started yet, and right away you’re challenged. It’s not easy.”
Top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo of France pleased a partisan crowd by beating Meghann Shaughnessy 6-4, 6-4. Mauresmo celebrated with a leaping fist pump when she broke serve in the next-to-last game, then finished with her eighth ace.
”It’s satisfactory for the first round, even if it was not the match of the century,” said Mauresmo, who has never made the semifinals at Roland Garros. ”I know everybody is expecting me to do well. I hope to do well, too. I’m going to try and enjoy myself and see where it leads me.”
Number 14 Dinara Safina, number 22 Ai Sugiyama and number 25 Marion Bartoli also advanced.
Juan Antonio Marin and Kenneth Carlsen failed to snap long losing streaks. Marin fell to 0-17 in Grand Slam events — the worst record in the Open Era — when he lost to Carlos Moya 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
Carlsen’s skid at Roland Garros reached nine consecutive matches, dating back to 1995, as he lost to Tim Henman, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Number three-seeded David Nalbandian needed nearly three hours to defeat Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Number seven Tommy Robredo swept Tomas Zib 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Washington kept the number four-seeded Sharapova on the run with shots into the corners and reached her first match point at 5-3.
Sharapova calmly erased it with a forehand winner.
Washington held two more match points serving at 5-4, but lost the first with a backhand long, then lost her last one when Sharapova whacked another forehand winner.
”I played well,” Washington said. ”I just wasn’t able to get the last point.”
Beginning with the last match point she saved, Sharapova won 15 of the final 19 points. When she hit a running backhand winner to reach match point myself, she twirled and punched the air.
Washington then sailed a backhand wide, and a relieved Sharapova tapped her chest with her fist as she walked to the net.
”I’m a competitor, and that’s why I play the sport,” Sharapova said. ”That’s why I’m here.”
Play began under overcast skies, but the centre-court stands were sun-splashed and mostly full when the Federer-Hartfield match started.
”I have no idea how he plays,” Federer said shortly beforehand.
”But I’m as prepared as I can be. I hope no surprises.”
The start turned out be a stunner: Federer committed 13 unforced errors in the first six games and fell behind 5-3.
”Obviously not a good start, and try not to panic,” Federer said. ”He played very well in the beginning and made it hard for me.”
Hartfield, ranked 156th, has spent the past seven years on tennis’ minor-league circuits. He never previously faced a player ranked higher than 95th and took the court figuring he had nothing to lose.
”I really had fun,” he said. ”I want to take the video home to remind me of this match all my life.”
Hartfield missed a chance to close out the first set, committing four unforced errors to lose serve for five-all. Federer broke again two games later to take the set but continued to struggle, failing to convert three set points in the 10th game of the second set.
Federer saved his best play for the tie-breaker. He kissed the line for winners on consecutive points, and closed out the set with a pair of booming forehands.
A weary but scrappy Hartfield kept battling. During a scrambling exchange in the third set, he whiffed on a swinging volley, then spun with his back to the net and hit the ball between his legs.
Hartfield could only grin when Federer won the point anyway.
”I’d love him to win the tournament,” Hartfield said. ”He was my favourite player before, but when I found out I was playing him, he stopped being my favourite player.”
The Sunday start may have annoyed Federer, but it gives him a two-day layoff before he plays again on Wednesday.
”I like Paris,” he said. ”I might take time to go around and have a look at the town.” – Sapa-AP