Venus, Hewitt advance as Sampras slumps in Paris

Venus Williams and Lleyton Hewitt led a procession of seeds into the second round of the French Open on a rain-hit opening day of action at Roland Garros on Monday.

But Pete Sampras, holder of a record 13 grand slam titles, yet again came up short in the one major to elude him, skidding out in the fading light to Italian journeyman Andrea Gaudenzi 3-6 6-4 6-2 7-6.

The 12th-seeded American's customary early exit on the Parisian red clay condemned Sampras to a fifth successive defeat before the third round here.

"It is a pretty empty feeling... I put so much effort and energy into my French Open preparations," a dejected Sampras said afterwards.

Men's top seed Hewitt put in a solid performance on Court Suzanne Lenglen, though, to beat Brazilian Andre Sa 7-5 6-4 7-5, while women's second seed Williams spent just 65 minutes sweeping aside Germany's Bianka Lamade 6-3 6-3.

Gustavo Kuerten opened the defence of his Roland Garros crown in fine style, beating Swiss Ivo Heuberger 7-5 6-2 6-2, while last year's runner-up Alex Corretja dispatched Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-1 6-4 6-1.

SEEDED CASUALTY

But France's Sandrine Testud became the first seeded casualty, falling to Argentine Paola Suarez 2-6 7-5 6-1.

Hewitt just managed to squeeze his match in before rain forced play to be halted on all 16 courts at Roland Garros.

Much more comfortable on quicker hard courts, the Australian was given a tough test in his opener against baseliner Sa as gusty and overcast conditions posed problems for both players.

"It felt like it was tough out there today," the world number one said. "You know, one minute I felt like I was getting burned... the next minute I was ready to come off because it was getting too heavy with the rain."

Hewitt will next face Andrei Stoliarov after the Russian beat Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman 1-6 6-4 6-4 7-5.

Kuerten's match was caught by the rain -- a 45-minute delay caused by persistent showers -- but it did not seem to affect the three-times champion unduly.

The Brazilian, who underwent hip surgery in February, gives himself only an outside chance of winning the title this time round, but should not have too much trouble next against Italy's Davide Sanguinetti.

Kuerten is bidding to become the first player since Bjorn Borg in 1978, 1979 and 1980 to win three back-to-back men's singles crowns at Roland Garros.

MARATHON MATCH

In other men's action, German third seed Tommy Haas strolled past Czech Michal Tabara 6-3 7-5 6-4 but 16th seed Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco was forced to endure a marathon match before ousting Jan-Michael Gambill in five sets.

Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson put aside his discomfort on clay, however, to beat Argentine Franco Squillari 6-2 7-6 6-2.

"I feel for the moment very, very strong on the court. I know that I can be out there for a very long time," Johansson said afterwards.

"I had the same feeling in Melbourne, that I knew that I was very well-prepared and I was very strong physically.

"I have the same feeling now. So now I've just got to win six more matches," he laughed.

In the women's draw, Williams -- a first round loser here last year -- became the first seed into the second round.

She showed little sign of the wrist injury which caused her to pull out of the Italian Open in Rome two weeks ago as she motored through against Lamade.

TOUGH TEST

"It was a tough test," she said. "It was a little tough this morning because it is so cold, but once I got warmed up it was okay.

"Really it is a lot of fun, claycourt tennis. Sometimes it can be tough if things aren't going your way, but it can be fun."

French 10th seed Amelie Mauresmo also atoned for a first round defeat in 2001 by ousting compatriot Camille Pin 6-4 6-1.

They were joined in the second round by 11th seed Daniela Hantuchova and 13th seed Elena Dementieva who also posted straightforward victories on the slow, red clay of the French capital.

Slovakia's Hantuchova gained revenge for a Miami defeat at the hands of Cara Black in March by dismissing the Zimbabwean 6-2 6-3.

Russian number one Dementieva was made to fight a little harder before easing past Czech Adriana Gersi 7-5 6-3.