UPDATE 2-Tennis-Federer glides on and Roddick slides out

...

By Pritha Sarkar

After being left in limbo overnight, Roger Federer needed only a brisk 50 minute workout to defeat American Michael Russell 6-4 6-2 6-4 in the first round of the French Open on Tuesday.

It was a rain-delayed first step towards realising the Swiss top seed's dream of winning the only grand slam to elude him so far.

Andy Roddick and Nadia Petrova, however, slid out in the first round for the second year running.

American third seed Roddick once again came unstuck on the red clay with a 3-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 defeat by Igor Andreev, while Russian 11th seed Nadia Petrova was humiliated 7-5 5-7 6-0 by 182nd ranked qualifier Kveta Peschke.

Roddick's thunderbolt deliveries had little effect on a surface slowed by the wet weather and against a player who until nine days ago had held the honour of being the last man to beat Rafael Nadal on clay in 2005.

Coach Jimmy Connors had guided Roddick to reach at least the semi-finals of every major since they hooked up last July but on Tuesday, the eight-times grand slam champion was powerless to change his charge's fortunes.

The man with the world's fastest serve was even out-aced 8-5 by Andreev, who ended his opponent's torment with a thumping smash.

Tripped up by 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, was hopelessly outclassed by Federer.

"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.

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

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

Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt continued his resurgence to crush former doubles partner Max Mirnyi 6-3 6-1 6-3.

Keywords: TENNIS OPEN/

[PARIS/Reuters/Finance.cz]