Scheduling setbacks can't stop Federer and Sharapova (Roundup)

By Bill Scott May 29, 2006, 0:37 GMT

Paris - Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova overcame unfavorable scheduling as the pair of Wimbledon winners posted grinding victories in the first round of the 14.3-million-euro French Open Sunday.

With the clay-court Grand Slam breaking new ground by starting a day earlier than normal, both of the high-profile pair had asked not to play on the first day.

But officials ignored their requests, forcing men's top seed Federer into immediate battle with Argentine qualifier Diego Hartfield, against whom the Swiss produced a tougher-than-expected 7- 5, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 win.

After asking specifically not to play first, Federer was fuming at being put on anyway.

'I didn't want to be the guy who starts the tournament. I was preparing for a Monday start,' said Federer, the loser of only three matches this season.

'I was never happy about the idea. I told everybody that I didn't want to play Sunday. Anyway, they decided to do it that way,' he added.

Sharapova, who had not played since Miami in March, was forced to compete on clay for the first time this season after reportedly tweaking the injured ankle which has already kept her away for two months.

But the fourth seed rose from the ashes, trailing 2-5 in the final set against unfancied American number 97 Mashona Washington, to carve out an heroic 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 comeback victory in well over two hours.

She showed her bravery against the inexperienced Washington, saving three match points including two at 3-5 down in the third set.

Meanwhile, it was plain sailing for women's top seed Amelie Mauresmo, who rolled over American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-4, 6-4.

'I felt it was a pretty good first round match, which is never easy,' said the Frenchwoman who has never advanced past the quarter- finals at home.

'It's all right, it wasn't the match of the century, but it was OK, a good start,' she added.

Federer got off to the worst possible start, losing his first two service games and flirting with an 0-4 scoreline before hauling himself into action against Hartfield, who was playing his first Tour-level match.

With nothing to lose, the Argentine, ranked 156th, managed to stretch the drama out to two and a half hours before going down amid a flurry of 49 unforced errors by Federer.

'I only knew one day ahead who I was going to play, and I never heard of his name or never seen him before,' said Federer, who is bidding to win his first career trophy on the clay of Paris.

'It was obviously not a good start, but you try not to panic,' said the Swiss, now 15-7 at Roland Garros. 'What would have been worse would have been losing the first set - that didn't happen.

'He played very well in the beginning and made it hard for me,' Federer said.

Third-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian got off to a solid opening win as he defeated Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Spain's seventh-seeded Tommy Robredo also began with a win, after claiming the Hamburg Masters title a week ago, as he defeated Czech Tomas Zib 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

Briton Tim Henman, a 2004 semi-finalist, took a victory over Kenneth Carlsen 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.