| Serena outclasses Harkleroad |
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AP
Serena Williams can be a perfectionist when it comes to her tennis game. After winning 12 of the final 13 games to beat Ashley Harkleroad 6-2 6-1 today in the first round of the French Open, the eight-time Grand Slam champion was happy enough to just get the win. "I feel like I ultimately could have played better," Williams said. "But first round – just want to get it over with and work your way in the tournament." Williams, the 2002 French Open champion, was broken in the first game of the match and trailed 2-0. She held in the third despite a double-fault while leading 40-0. "I never felt like I was going to lose my serve there," Williams said, adding that Harkleroad was playing well to start. "I wasn't nervous, though." On Monday, top-ranked Roger Federer was scheduled to begin his bid to complete a career Grand Slam by playing Sam Querrey of the United States in the first round, and No.2 Rafael Nadal was to start his quest for a fourth straight French Open title against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil. On the women's side Venus Williams, Jelena Jankovic and Amelie Mauresmo are all scheduled to play. The biggest news from Harkleroad came after the match was over. The 23-year-old American said she had posed for Playboy magazine and would be in the August edition. "There's a few reasons why I did it, but I can't really go into it right now," Harkleroad said. "I really didn't think it was that big of a deal. I'm proud of my body. I stay in shape and try to stay fit." Other winners on the opening day of the clay-court major included Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, David Nalbandian, Andy Murray and James Blake. But the men's tournament was more defined by someone who lost – three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten. The former top-ranked player from Brazil played what he has said will be his final singles match, losing to No.18 Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3 6-4 6-2 on centre court at Roland Garros. "Here, it is my life, my passion and my love," Kuerten said to the audience in French. "It's great to have my family here, my coach. But more important was the love you gave me." The 31-year-old Kuerten has been bothered by a hip injury since 2001. Since having surgery in 2004, he has played in only 19 tournaments and won five matches. This year's French Open was his first appearance in a Grand Slam tournament since the 2005 US Open – and he said beforehand it would be his last event at any level. Djokovic survived a rough start to his quest for a second straight Grand Slam title, holding off Denis Gremelmayr 4-6 6-3 7-5 6-2. Nalbandian, a two-time French Open semifinalist, advanced to the second round by beating Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 6-2 6-4 6-1. Murray beat Jonathan Eysseric, who turns 18 on Tuesday and was the youngest player in the men's field, 6-2 1-6 4-6 6-0 6-2. Two-time Grand Slam finalist Ana Ivanovic also advanced, beating Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 7-5. The first seeded player to lose was No.15 Nicole Vaidisova. She reached the French Open semifinals in 2006 and the quarterfinals last year, but was upset by Iveta Benesova 7-6 (2) 6-1. |
