Champion Myskina makes unwanted history

The first Russian woman to win a grand slam crown, Anastasia Myskina yesterday became the first French Open champion to be beaten in the first round, suffering a 6-4 4-6 6-0 defeat to doughty Spaniard Maria Sanchez Lorenzo.

Where 12 months ago the elfin Myskina had triumphed in glorious Parisian sunshine, her brief defence fell to pieces on centre court as storm clouds gathered overhead.

Drained by concerns over her mother's health, the Russian's heart simply was not in it and despite mustering a modicum of resistance in the second set she handed her 109th-ranked opponent the match with her 69th unforced error.

Since the tournament opened up to international competitors in 1925, only twice had champions failed to reach the second round.

But Hungary's Jozsef Asboth in 1948 and Spain's Manuel Santana in 1965 both handed their opponents walkovers.

"Tough times," Myskina said, tears glistening in her eyes.

"It doesn't seem to take much to beat me these days. I just have no confidence... I have no explanation, really... no."

While Myskina's misery deepened, men's top seed Roger Federer made it look easy, leaving 264th-ranked Dudi Sela stunned on a battle-scarred centre court.

The Swiss world number one crushed the Israeli qualifier 6-1 6-4 6-0 to reach the second round.

"I've prepared well for this," the irrepressible Swiss smiled.

"A good win. I am ready to stay here for a while... if I can do well here, if I can win it, it will be great for me, for my place in history."

For Sela it was an 89-minute lesson he will want to consign to history.

Women's top seed Lindsay Davenport will also be happy to put her performance behind her, the American struggling to an unconvincing 3-6 6-2 6-2 win over Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik.

Davenport was playing her first tournament in four weeks and it showed.

While Federer prepared for Paris by winning the Hamburg Masters, his opposite number in the women's game took a break from training to go on holiday to Mexico with her husband.

"I do consider this an important tournament but I also realise it's the most difficult one for me to do well in," she said.

If Davenport can shake her Parisian lethargy she could face Belgian Kim Clijsters in the fourth round and on yesterday's showing, the number one seed would be heading home.

Clijsters, twice a runner-up, was in blistering form as she thrashed qualifier Meilen Tu 6-1 6-0.

The Belgian had missed the last four grand slam tournaments through a series of injuries.

Impressive Nadal

Rafael Nadal looked equally impressive in battering Germany's Lars Burgsmueller 6-1 7-6 6-1.

The 18-year-old pre-tournament favourite is bidding to become the first man since 23 years ago to win the French Open on his debut.

"I was a little nervous as I was playing here for the first time," said Nadal, who captured the Monte Carlo and Rome Masters crowns in the run up to the French Open.

Former champion Carlos Moya overcame a slow start to oust fellow Spaniard Alberto Martin 5-7 6-1 6-4 6-2 while French hope Sebastien Grosjean beat Argentine Juan Monaco 7-5 6-3 6-1.

Other results: Gasquet bt Bracciali 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-4; Grosjean bt Monaco 7-5 6-3 6-1.