Starting trouble for big names

Men8217;s world number one Federer has had little to shout about this season, winning only one minor title, and overcame a slight early wobble to ease to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 win over lofty American Sam Querrey.

No. 17 Marcos Baghdatis, the 2006 Australian Open runner-up, lost to Simone Bolelli of Italy 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in the first round.

8220;That8217;s the way it is. That8217;s tennis,8221; said Baghdatis, who was returning to the game after more than a month off for personal reasons. 8220;He played better than I did today.8221;

Venus gets out of trouble

Williams8217;s chances of joining sister Serena, the only former champion in the women8217;s draw, in the second round looked to be in jeopardy when she allowed Obziler to reel off six successive games.

From 6-3, 4-1 up, Venus8217;s shots started to malfunction and she suddenly found herself a break down in the decider.

However, Obziler, the oldest woman in the draw at 35 and whose greatest achievement at a Grand Slam were a handful of second-round appearances, simply did not possess the firepower to topple the eighth seed.

8220;Sometimes tennis isn8217;t always won as quick as you want,8221; summed up Venus, who dodged back into the locker room just as rain started belting down on Philippe Chatrier Court.

8220;I think she really played some good tennis. She made some good shots and fought really hard for that second set. It was just important to close it out in the third.8221;

Last year8217;s semi-finalist Jankovic threw away a 3-0 lead in the opening set and almost allowed a Roland Garros debutant, ranked 86th in the world, to get the better of her. After being given the run-around in the first set, the third seed asserted her authority to seal a 7-6, 6-2 win over Romania8217;s Monica Niculescu.

Shaky start

Federer also needed a little time to assess the strengths and weaknesses of his big-serving 1.98 metres opponent. Querrey rattled Federer early on by breaking the Swiss in the fourth game but that was as good as it got for the American. Federer, winner of 12 Grand Slam titles but still without the French Open trophy, polished off a solid win when Querrey floated the ball long.

8220;It8217;s sort of a nerve-wracking first set. Once I got settled I played a little bit more better,8221; the top seed said. 8220;I8217;m sort of relieved getting through the first one and I think from now on it should get a little bit easy.8221;

Triple champion Rafael Nadal had been expected to begin his title defence later on Monday but the Spaniard was left staring out of the locker room window as the showers refused to let up.