UPDATE 1-Tennis-Federer, Jankovic enjoy brisk workouts

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By Pritha Sarkar

Left in limbo overnight, Roger Federer took the first steps towards fulfilling his wish list with a brisk 50-minute workout at the French Open on Tuesday.

The world number one completed a clinical 6-4 6-2 6-4 first-round win over American Michael Russell in a contest which spilled over to a second day after drizzle had washed away all but 14 matches on the opening two days of the claycourt event.

Nicole Vaidisova and Serbian fourth seed Jelena Jankovic lifted dampened spirits with their photogenic smiles as they strutted into the second round.

Playing opponents who had not won a single tour match all year, Czech sixth seed Vaidisova picked apart Emmanuelle Gagliardi's fragile hopes 6-4 6-3 and Jankovic was merciless in a 6-2 6-2 defeat of France's Stephanie Foretz.

But Russian 11th seed Nadia Petrova slithered out in the first round for the second year running following a 7-5 5-7 6-0 defeat by 182nd ranked qualifier Kveta Peschke.

Twelve months after she capitulated from a winning position in the semi-finals against Svetlana Kuznetsova and ran off court an emotional wreck, Vaidisova displayed her more mature character as she played her first match in over six weeks.

Despite failing to take advantage of five break points in the second game which lasted 16 minutes and 10 deuces, the 18-year-old kept her focus on Centre Court.

After two more break points went begging during the 47-minute first set, she converted the eighth to take the set.

Another wayward shot from her 110th-ranked Swiss opponent handed Vaidisova a place in the second round after 97 minutes.

On an adjoining court, Foretz was clearly out of her depth against Jankovic and held serve just once in each set before surrendering meekly.

The quick-fire win was a tonic for Jankovic, one of the favourites for the title, who withdrew from the Strasbourg International last week with gastroenteritis.

Tripped up by foe Rafael Nadal in the final last year, Federer had declared before his match: "I haven't won the French Open yet but it's definitely on my wish list" .

Russell, whose sole claim to fame in Paris was to hold a match point in 2001 against eventual champion Gustavo Kuerten in the last 16, simply did not possess the talent to turn Federer's dream into a nightmare.

"Perfect start in the three sets," declared Federer.

The Swiss maestro needs the Roland Garros trophy to become only the third man after American Don Budge and Australian Rod Laver to hold all four majors at the same time.

Keywords: TENNIS OPEN/

[PARIS/Reuters/Finance.cz]