Justine, Just out

Defending champion and top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium was sensationally dumped out of the French Open today losing 7-5, 6-4 to I...

Defending champion and top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium was sensationally dumped out of the French Open today losing 7-5, 6-4 to Italy8217;s Tathiana Garbin in the second round. The world No.1, the holder of three Grand Slam titles and who had come into the tournament not having played for six weeks because of a virus, went down to defeat against the world No.86 in 1hr 58min leaving the 26-year-old Italian to progress to a third round clash against Jie Zheng of China.

It was the earliest defeat at Roland Garros for a defending women8217;s champion since Spain8217;s Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario also perished in the second round in 1989.

Henin-Hardenne8217;s defeat was the second biggest shock in the first three days of the championship following Andre Agassi8217;s shock first round exit on Monday at the hands of France8217;s 271-world ranked Jerome Haehnal.

The Italian took the first set in 60 minutes breaking her opponent twice, as the Belgian8217;s normally solid service fell apart, and broke again in the opening game of the second to go 2-0. The feisty Henin-Hardenne battled back to 4-2 before the brave Italian levelled to go 4-4 and then held serve for 5-4.

Garbin carved out another match point and converted it into the biggest win of her career when she unleashed a blistering backhand pass which left Henin-Hardenne flatfooted.

Britain8217;s Tim Henman marched through to the third round with a 6-0, 6-3, 6-3 demolition of German Lars Burgsmueller. The ninth seed matched his best performance at Roland Garros with a superb display on court one and showed little sign of the tiredness he had complained of after his five-set, first round win over Cyril Saulnier.

Thailand8217;s Paradorn Srichaphan, who has never been able to adapt his game to clay, suffered another lesson in the slow arts of Roland Garros when he was knocked out by veteran Spanish campaigner Alex Corretja 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.

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Corretja now faces Argentine 22nd seed Juan Ignacio Chela in the third round while Paradorn heads for the more comfortable surroundings of the grass court season in the run-up to Wimbledon.

Paes-Rikl have it easy

Tenth seeded duo Leander Paes and David Rikl got off to a perfect start in the men8217;s doubles event with a straight set win over Spaniards Juan Ignacio Carrasco and Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo. The Indo-Czech Republic duo, a semifinalist at the Garros last year, without sweat scored a 6-2, 6-4 win in a little under an hour.

In the second round, Paes-Rikl will take on the winners of the Nicolas Kiefer/ Rainer Schuettler Germany-Juan Ignacio Chela/ Gaston Gaudio Argentina encounter.