Rain hits French Open, interrupting most matches

PARIS - American Venus Williams declared that she could be a danger to the top seeds at Roland Garros after breezing into the second round Monday as rain played havoc on the second straight day of the year's second Grand Slam on Monday.

Maintenance workers remove water from the court during the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris May 28, 2007. [Reuters]

Williams, seeded 26th in the event, was never troubled in defeating 17-year-old French wildcard Alize Cornet 6-4, 6-3 in a match that started three hours late due to rain and ended just before another wet system rolled into Paris.

World No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko was the only men's player to book his place in the Roland Garros second round the same day, as torrential rain forced organisers to abandon most of the schedule early and halted the ongoing matches.

"I want to play quick and have more breaks because of the coming rain," he said.

The fourth-seeded Russian, who was scheduled to play first match on Court One at 11am local time, was also forced to endure a three-hour rain delay before he was able to complete a 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Stefano Galvani of Italy.

The 25-year-old Davydenko, who has reached two career Grand Slam semifinals at 2005 Roland Garros and the 2006 US Open, converted seven of 11 break point opportunities in the match and improves to 24-14 this year.

Only four men's singles matches -- and 14 overall at the championships -- have been completed at the showpiece clay event thus far.

World No. 1 Roger Federer will return to the Philippe Chatrier Court on Tuesday, holding a 6-4, 4-1 advantage over American Michael Russell.

Last year's semifinalist Ivan Ljubicic, the No. 7 seed, is in a strong position against Frenchman Arnaud Clement on Suzanne Lenglen Court. Ljubicic leads 6-1, 4-4.

Meanwhile No. 9 seed Tommy Robredo, the 2003 and 2005 quarterfinalist, was leading Argentine Sergio Roitman 6-3, 6-4, 2-1 when rain stopped play.

On women's part, former Roland Garros finalist and five times Grand Slam winner Williams, broke three times in the opening set, one more than the precocious French teenager, to take the victory.

And after that, the American was never seriously tested by the Open entrant.

"I think my serve is okay. I think sometimes I just made some errors on the ground strokes. On the surface, I can serve big, but it's definitely important, the placement and to try to set myself up for the next shot, " she said.

Williams has clay court pedigree, having captured seven Tour titles on the surface during her career, but has struggled during the European season, winning just three matches in two tournaments.

"I feel good right now. I think the most important thing is that I'm on tour, and as long as I'm on tour, I feel like really good things can happen to me."

Williams, who was upset by Czech Nicole Vaidisova in the fourth round last year, will play the winner of the match between American Ashley Harkleroad and Canadian Alexandra Wozniak.

The 31st-seeded Severine Bremond of France was upset by Michaella Krajicek from the Netherlands 6-3, 6-3 while China's 16th seed Li Na fought off a strong resistance form German Sandra Kloesel before winning 7-6 (4), 6-0.

There are also wins for 19th seed Tathiana Garbin of Italy, who beat Japanese Akiko Morigami 7-6 (2), 6-4, and 27th seed Samantha Stosur from Austrlia, who eased to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Jamea Jackson from the United States.