World No. 1 tennis player Roger Federer of Switzerland and defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain have reached the second round of the French Open in Paris. But the tournament is over for two prominent Americans.
Third-seeded Andy Roddick of the United States has been eliminated for the second straight year in the opening round. He was beaten Tuesday by Russian Igor Andreev in four sets, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
American eighth seed James Blake was knocked out by Croatian Ivo Karlovic, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 7-5. Also falling was fifth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, who had been runner-up to Federer at the Australian Open in January. Gonzalez lost to Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in straight sets (6-2, 6-2, 6-4).
In a match that started a day earlier but was halted because of rain, Federer defeated American Michael Russell in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. The top-seeded Swiss will next play Frenchman Thierry Ascione, who beat Marin Cilic of Croatia, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.
The second-seeded Nadal opened defense of his title with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro.
Highlighting women's action, fourth seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia got her French Open campaign off to a smooth start, defeating Stephanie Foretz of France, 6-2, 6-2.
For the second year in a row Russian Nadia Petrova fell in the opening round. The No. 11 seed was upset by Czech player Kveta Peschke, 7-5, 5-7, 6-0.
Another Czech, sixth seed Nicole Vaidisova, was victorious over Switzerland's Emmanuelle Gagliardi (6-4, 6-3), and 13th-seed Russian Elena Dementieva won in straight sets over German Angelique Kerber (6-3, 6-2).
American Shenay Perry was a three-sets winner over France's Olivia Sanchez (6-3, 4-6, 6-3), while American Vania King was defeated in three sets by Akgul Amanmuradova of Ukraine (7-6, 4-6, 6-3).
Other women's winners Tuesday were France's Mathilde Johansson, Italian Mara Santangelo, Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives and Russia's Maria Kirilenko.
Elsewhere in men's play, seventh seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia and ninth seed Tommy Robredo of Spain were winners in straight sets. Ljubicic downed Frenchman Arnaud Clement (6-1, 7-5, 7-6), and Robredo beat Argentina's Sergio Roitman (6-3, 6-4, 6-2).
Other first round men's winners were 13th seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, 14th seed Llelyton Hewitt of Australia, 15th seed David Nalbandian of Argentina, 11th seed Richard Gasquet of France, 13th seed Mikail Youzhny of Russia and 16th seed Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.
The first two days of the French Open were marked by rain, with only 14 matches completed before Tuesday.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
