Venus Williams Advances At French Open

Monday, May 28th 2007, 3:22 pm

By: News On 6

PARIS (AP) _ Venus Williams was among only seven players to complete a match Monday at the French Open before rain suspended play. Williams advanced to the second round by beating French teenager Alize Cornet 6-4, 6-3 on a damp court after a 3-hour delay at the start of the day.

It was second straight day of rain at the French Open, and three delays throughout the day forced organizers to postpone 58 matches.

Williams, who lost to sister Serena in the 2002 final at Roland Garros, survived a pair of breaks in the first set and another in the second on center court.

``I had some chances to really take the match, but she always came back,'' said Williams, a five-time Grand Slam champion.

Williams faced 10 break points in the match, including at least one in seven of the first eight games.

``Sometimes the first round can be like that,'' said Williams, who was playing in her first Grand Slam tournament since last July, when she lost in the third round at Wimbledon. ``I definitely was really clear, especially toward the end, on how I wanted to execute.''

Cornet, a 17-year-old wildcard, had more support from the French crowd throughout the match, but it was Williams that won most of the big points.

``I went onto court without pressure, with no complex,'' Cornet said. ``I started the match very well. I have no regrets, she is a great champion.''

Fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko was the only man to reach the second round Monday. He easily beat Stefano Galvani of Italy, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 as the rain returned and eventually halted play again.

Also, No. 16 Li Na of China beat Sandra Kloesel of Germany, 7-6 (4), 6-0, No. 19 Tathiana Garbin of Italy defeated Akiko Morigami of Japan 7-6 (2), 6-4, and No. 27 Samantha Stosur of Australia beat Jamea Jackson of the United States 6-1, 6-2. Ashley Harkleroad and Michaella Krajicek also advanced.

``Thank you for the rain,'' said Li, who was trailing 5-3 when her match was interrupted by the weather.

Roger Federer, a 10-time major champion who needs to win the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam, was leading Michael Russell of the United States 6-4, 4-1 before the third rain delay of the day.

Many of those scheduled to play were in the players' lounge during the breaks.

``It's really noisy. It makes you feel tired,'' said No. 4 Jelena Jankovic, who had been scheduled to play the late match on center court. ``I'm trying to get some lunch.''

Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2003 French Open champion who is seeded 17th this year, was on his way back to his hotel despite being scheduled to play second on Court 3.

``There are a lot of players here. I can't stay here,'' Ferrero said. ``There's no place to be.''

On Sunday, only seven of the 24 scheduled matches began because of about 5 1/2 hours of rain, and Justine Henin and Serena Williams had to wait through the delay to reach the second round.

Williams struggled before her match was stopped, and Henin struggled before her match started.

``I was playing more patient and I was doing what I've been practicing,'' said Williams, who eventually beat Bulgarian teenager Tsvetana Pironkova 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. ``I guess it just didn't work out in the first set.''

Williams, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, was broken four times in the first set, and again in the opening game of the second. But she then won 12 of the final 13 games.

Henin, however, had little trouble beating Elena Vesnina of Russia 6-4, 6-3. But she was annoyed by both starting a Grand Slam tournament on a Sunday and by the rain delay.

``The weather is appalling, and it's going to be the same throughout the weeks,'' said Henin, who is trying to win her third straight French Open title and fourth overall.