Sport - Tennis

Federer makes short work of Querrey in the first round

PARIS: Roger Federer made a winning return to the French Open, the only Grand Slam title he has never won.

The top-ranked Federer beat Sam Querrey of the United States 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round at Roland Garros, where the 12-time Major champion is trying to become the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam.

Federer was broken once early in the first set, but managed to win five times on Querrey’s serve.

“It’s always difficult in the first round at Grand Slams,” Federer said. “I’m relieved and looking forward to the second round.”

Federer has played well on clay this season and won his only title of the year in Estoril (Portugal) when Nikolay Davydenko retired with a leg injury. Federer then reached the final of the Monte Carlo Masters and Hamburg Masters, losing both times to Rafael Nadal.

Querrey was making his second appearance at the French Open.

He also lost in the first round last year.

In the other matches, the 17th seed Marco Baghdatis, the 2006 Australian Open runner-up, lost to Simone Bolelli of Italy 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

“That’s the way it is. That’s tennis,” said Baghdatis, who was returning to the game after more than a month off for personal reasons. “He played better than I did today.”

Tommy Robredo, the 12th seed, rallied to beat Guillermo Coria 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.

In the women’s section, Jelena Jankovic got a little love from the net to help her beat Monica Niculescu 7-6(3), 6-2.

Leading 4-2 in the first set tie-breaker, last year’s French Open semifinalist saw a drop volley hit the top of the net and roll along the tape before falling into the opposite court.

The third-seeded Jankovic put her hand up as if to say, “Sorry.”

The Serb then bent down and kissed the white tape.

In the second set, Jankovic lost her serve after breaking her Romanian opponent in the opening game, then dominated the rest of the match. But, she had more trouble in the first set, despite jumping out to a 3-0 lead.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia, the youngest player in the tournament at 16, advanced to the second round by beating Maria Emilia Salerni of Argentina 6-1, 6-1.

No. 12 Agnes Szavay of Hungary and No. 32 Karin Knapp of Italy also progressed.

Late on Sunday, former triple champion Gustavo Kuerten brought his career to an emotional end.

The Brazilian, a former World No. 1 and champion here in 1997, 2000 and 2001, was beaten 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 by French 18th seed Paul-Henri Mathieu to bring his career, so recently blighted by a chronic hip injury, to a sad end.

Kuerten was joined at the exit by Spain’s 1998 champion Carlos Moya whose 13th Roland Garros was ended by Argentinian qualifier Eduardo Schwank who won 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-3 in a marathon four-hour clash.

However, British 10th seed Andy Murray got past French 17-year-old Jonathan Eysseric 6-2, 1-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. — Agencies

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