Federer, Sharapova make opponents shiver

Roger Federer [Images] and Maria Sharapova [Images] ignored the miserable conditions at Roland Garros on Wednesday to claim stop-start victories in the French Open second round.

World number one Federer, who is seeking to complete his full set of Grand Slam titles in Paris, pummelled Colombian Alejandro Falla 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

The claycourt win was almost as one-sided as the Swiss top seed's thrashing of Falla on the Wimbledon centre court two years ago, when Federer lost only three games.

Over on centre court fourth seed Sharapova showed no ill effects from her ankle problem when she dispatched Czech Iveta Benesova 6-4, 6-1.

The 19-year-old former Wimbledon champion had to save three match points in her first round victory but always had too much power down both flanks for Benesova, the world number 53.

Sharapova then cheered the sodden spectators by bursting into a smile and blowing kisses to all sides of the stadium.

Both matches were interrupted twice by rain showers and the players spent a total of 90 minutes twiddling their thumbs in the dressing-rooms. Russian Nikolay Davydenko moved into the third round when his Brazilian opponent Flavio Saretta retired when trailing 6-2, 4-1 because he felt unwell.

Sixth seed Davydenko, a semi-finalist last year, faces a tough third round match against 1998 champion Carlos Moya [Images] of Spain. Moya overcame Russian Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets.

Davydenko's compatriot Marat Safin [Images] was given the maximum $10,000 fine for failing to attend his obligatory post-match news conference after his defeat by Fernando Gonzalez on Tuesday.

On a happier note for the Safin family, Marat's younger sister Dinara Safina romped through to the third round with a 6-0, 6-2 thrashing of Czech player Hana Sromova.

Later on Wednesday French top seed Amelie Mauresmo plays Russian Vera Dushevina, whom she thrashed in Berlin earlier this month.

Argentine David Nalbandian faces a difficult second round match against French 19-year-old Richard Gasquet and American Venus Williams [Images] plays Finland's Emma Laine, weather permitting.

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