Kuerten, Hingis storm into second round

Kuerten next plays Argentine qualifier Marcelo Charpentier, who won a marathon against Morocco8217;s Karim Alami 6-7 1/7, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. The brilliant Brazilian was joined in the second round by 13th-seeded Briton Tim Henman, who won a grinding affair against chronic American loser Vince Spadea 7-5, 7-5, 6-4.

Spadea contributed to his own demise by serving 10 double faults. Henman, seldom comfortable on clay, was persistent enough to hand Spadea his 19th straight defeat 8211; a streak which stretches back to late last year. Nicolas Lapentti, the 11th seed from Ecuador, also was a straight-sets winner in downing Julien Boutter of France 6-4, 6-2, 6-0, but eighth-seeded German Nicolas Kiefer fell at the first hurdle. Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States, who usually struggles in the Grand Slam events, beat Kiefer 6-3, 7-5, 6-1.

Experienced South African Wayne Ferreira advanced with a 7-6 7/5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Germany8217;s Rainer Schuttler, while French hope Sebastien Grosjean downed Australian Richard Fromberg 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1. American Michael Chang, the men8217;s singles winner here in 1989 and runner-up in 1995 but now regarded as something of a faded force, also advanced with a 6-1, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 triumph over Romanian Adrian Voinea.

EASY FOR HINGIS:Swiss teenager Martina Hingis made an impressive start to her campaign with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Belgium8217;s Sabine Appelmans in their first-round women8217;s singles match. Top-seeded Hingis, aiming to win the only Grand Slam title that has so far eluded her, looked slick as she swept aside Appelmans in just 52 minutes.

Hingis raced through the first set in just 16 minutes on a sunny but blustery centre court, allowing Appelmans 8211; a former top 20-ranked player 8211; just eight points. Hingis, 19, hit the ball deep and hard but also had time to add the odd delicate drop shot. Appelmans finally got on the scoreboard in the second game of the second set and fought her way from 2-4 to 4-4 as Hingis8217; concentration briefly wavered. Hingis promptly broke for 5-4, however, and then served out for the match.

quot;I feel very comfortable here and it is nice to play my first match on centre court,quot; said the Swiss Miss, who has been practicing in Paris since last Tuesday and now plays Germany8217;s Julia Abe, who beat fellow qualifier Marion Maruska of Austria 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Hingis is looking to make amends this year after breaking down in tears and throwing tantrums as she lost to Steffi Graf in last year8217;s dramatic final. Hingis was also beaten by Croatia8217;s Iva Majoli in the final three years ago.

American Meghann Shaughnessy, 21, scored the first upset on the women8217;s side of the draw when she ousted 12th-seeded French player Julie Halard-Decugis 7-5, 6-4 on Court One. Halard-Decugis has suffered a series of early-round exits at Roland Garros but this was only her second first-round defeat in 13 appearances.

Seventh-seeded Nathalie Tauziat lifted the spirits of the home crowd with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Dutch player Kristie Boogert. Australian rising star Jelena Dokic rallied from a break down in the final set to beat Tina Pisnik of Slovenia 3-6, 7-6 7/3, 6-4.

First-round men8217;s and women8217;s singles were being played on 16 of the slow, red clay courts on the opening day of the second Grand Slam tournament of the year. Among the highlights of the programme is a first-round men8217;s singles between second-seeded American Pete Sampras, who is aiming for a record 13th Grand Slam title here in the one major tournament he has never won, and big-serving Australian Davis Cup star Mark Philippoussis.