Sharapova survives scare

TENNIS/FRENCH OPEN:RAFAEL NADAL and Ana Ivanovic made light work of their opponents as the sun made a welcome return to the French Open yesterday, but high winds and a grand slam debutante almost blew out top seed Maria Sharapova.

Nadal could hardly be any more at home on Court Philippe Chatrier if he wore carpet slippers, and the three-times defending champion barely broke sweat after a tight first set in his rain-interrupted match with Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci.

Held over at 1-1 in the first set after Tuesday's downpours, the Spaniard crushed the South American qualifier 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 and awaits more eager prey in round two in the shape of France's Nicolas Devilder.

"These were two difficult days," said Nadal, who took his perfect record at Roland Garros to 22-0.

"Because as time goes by you get more nervous and you can't practice, so I probably lost the rhythm I had acquired before this tournament. But I hope this won't be a problem for the rest of the tournament."

Sharapova, meanwhile, will be wondering how she is not booking grass courts for extra practice ahead of Wimbledon. The top seed was two points away from defeat against fellow Russian Evgeniya Rodina before prevailing 6-1, 3-6, 8-6 in two hours and 28 minutes of windswept action on centre court.

No women's top seed has bowed out at the first hurdle in Paris since the sport turned professional in 1968, and for spells it looked like Rodina, making her grand slam bow, and the blustery conditions would upend Sharapova, who hit a demoralising 17 double faults.

"I just hung in there," said Sharapova, who could complete her career grand slam set in Paris next week. "It was far from my best tennis today but you try to learn from your mistakes."

Former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero was 7-6, 2-2 up against Brazilian Marcos Daniel when a right leg injury forced him to call it a day, making it the first time he had failed to pass the first round in Paris in nine attempts.

Third seed Novak Djokovic stole a march on his rivals by booking a place in round three at the expense of Spaniard Miguel Angel Lopez Jaen. With Roger Federer learning that Spaniard Albert Montanes would be his second-round opponent, Australian Open champion Djokovic needed just 80 minutes to book his last-32 place with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 win.

Fellow Serb Ivanovic, the second seed, required only 55 minutes to batter Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-2 and move into round three. Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki is next up for last year's runner-up.

Fifth seed Serena Williams, the only former champion in the women's draw, overcame France's Mathilde Johansson 6-2, 7-5.

Australian 25th seed and twice grand slam winner Lleyton Hewitt prospered with the sun on his back, sending another home hope crashing with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over Nicolas Mahut.

Tomas Berdych, seeded 11, became the highest men's seed to fall so far when he tumbled out after five sets against France's Michael Llodra while Britain's 10th seed Andy Murray had an unexpectedly easy 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 win over clay specialist JoseAcasuso.

Marat Safin set up a mouthwatering last-64 clash with Nikolay Davydenko after coming from a set down to beat Monaco's Jean-Rene Lisnard 6-7, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.