World number one men's tennis player Lleyton Hewitt and defending champion Albert Costa have both scored tough, first-round wins at the French Open in Paris.
Hewitt was leading two sets to none and up a break against Brian Vahaly but the American bounced back to win the third set of their match. However, the Australian world number one eventually took the match in four sets, 6-4, 6-1, 6-7, 6-3.
Meanwhile, unseeded Argentine Sergio Roitman took defending champion Albert Costa of Spain to five sets in a match that lasted more than 3.5 hours. However, the Spaniard's experience and leg cramps got the best of Roitman and Costa won 6-7, 2-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.
Costa's countryman and last year's runner-up Juan Carlos Ferrero had an easier time advancing, ousting Switzerland's Michel Kratochvil in straight sets (7-5, 7-5, 6-4). Eighth-seeded David Nalbandian of Argentina defeated Albert Montanes of Spain (6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5).
In other matches, Gaston Gaudio of Argentina defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu of France in straight sets (7-5, 6-3, 6-3). Tim Henman of Britain ousted Vladimir Voltchkov of Belarus in straight sets (6-2, 6-3, 6-1). Todd Martin of the United States advanced with a four-set win over Jose Acasuso of Argentina (4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2).
In the women's draw, second seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium scored a straight-set win over American Amy Frazier (6-2, 6-0). Former champion Jennifer Capriati of the United States defeated Joanette Kruger of South Africa (6-2, 6-1). Sixth-seeded American Lindsay Davenport defeated Indonesia's Wynne Prakusya (6-2, 6-0).
Jelena Dokic of Serbia-Montenegro, the 10th seed, defeated Angelika Roesch of Germany (6-4, 6-4). But Elena Dementieva of Russia, the 13th seed, lost to Maria Sanchez Lorenzo of Spain (6-3, 6-3).
Vera Zvonareva of Russia scored a straight-set win over Martina Muller of Germany (6-1, 6-3). Tina Pisnik of Slovenia advanced with a straight-set win over Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic (7-6, 6-1). Iroda Tulyaganova of Uzbekistan reached the second round with a straight-set win over Antonella Serra Zanetti of Italy (6-2, 7-5).