Federer bites the dust in Paris

The 33-year-old Las Vegan has pocketed four titles this season — including the Australian Open, his eighth Grand Slam crown. He came to Paris on the back of a first-round defeat in Rome against Spain’s David Ferrer, then skipped Hamburg — but the rest has clearly done the veteran the power of good and he left the Philippe Chatrier showcourt with chants of “Andre, Andre” ringing in his ears.

A respectful bow — and a few air kisses later and off he went to prepare for a meeting with either Chile’s Marcelo Rios or Croatian Mario Ancic.

Serena’s 29th straight Grand Slam win and Agassi’s saunter saw the formbook largely respected but it was well and truly upset when men’s fifth seed Roger Federer slumped out to Peruvian Luis Horna, who won their meeting on the Philippe Chatrier showcourt 7-6 (8/6), 6-2, 7-6 (7/3).

Federer, ranked among the favourites, turned in a dismal showing, netting a backhand on match point having flunked his first set chances with a rash of errors including a missed overhead smash which summed up his day.

There was another shock among the men when experienced 49th-ranked Slovak Dominik Hrbaty ousted 10-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 7-5 while Spanish qualifier Galo Blanco downed twice finalist Alex Corretja 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5.

Carlos Moya of Spain, the 1998 men’s champion who had expected to meet Federer in the quarters, defeated Filippo Volandri of Italy 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to set up a meeting with either Philippoussis or American Alex Kim.

Also moving through was 1996 champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, who destroyed Julien Boutter of France 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

Kafelnikov, 29, mulled retirement after winning the Davis Cup with Russia last year but has a new spring in his step after making the semi-final in Rome.

Back among the women, fourth seed Henin-Hardenne beat Patricia Wartusch of Austria 6-3, 7-5. Belgium’s Henin-Hardenne, who came here with the German Open under her belt after ousting compatriot Kim Clijsters in the final a fortnight ago, now meets Croatian Jelena Kostanic.

Serena, looking to emulate Steffi Graf’s 1988-89 achievement of capturing five straight Slam Singles titles, took just 53 min to see off Rittner.

“It’s nice to be out there where all the magic began last year,” said Serena, who beat elder sister Venus in last year’s final and then went on to land Wimbledon and the US Open. Serena came to Paris after defeats to Henin-Hardenne in Charleston and France’s Mauresmo in Rome and that pair bar her route to the final.

Fifth seed Mauresmo, who ousted compatriot Virginie Razzano 6-3, 7-5, is the American’s potential quarter-final opponent while Henin-Hardenne could end up as her semi-final rival.