Open-Federer, Sharapova make opponents shiver

PARIS, May 31 (Reuters) Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova re-asserted their authority at a sodden Roland Garros on Wednesday with imperious victories in the French Open second round.

Home favourite Amelie Mauresmo had a more difficult time against Russian Vera Dushevina, who served for the second set before eventually losing 6-1 7-6 to the French world number one.

Both Federer and Sharapova were well short of their best in the first round but after two days' rest Federer, who is seeking to complete his full set of grand slam titles, 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 at Wimbledon 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 was furious at having her request not play on the Sunday rejected by organisers but on Wednesday the Russian brightened the mood 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.

DIFFICULT CONDITIONS ''It's not easy to come on and off, the conditions are really slow and wet,'' said Federer, who had trailed 3-0 and 5-3 to tour debutant Diego Hartfield in the first round before winning.

''But I was always in control of the match. I could play very freely which was a nice feeling to have because the first round was more difficult. I'm just happy I finished the match today.'' Sharapova said: ''You just have to adjust and be patient. It was a lot better actually than my previous match, painwise.'' Federer could face German Nicolas Kiefer, who has given him trouble in previous meetings, in the fourth round. Kiefer, the 13th seed, won a fifth-set thriller 11-9 to beat Frenchman Marc Gicquel in a match that spanned seven hours.

Mauresmo had easily beaten Dushevina in Berlin earlier this month but the Frenchwoman rarely looks comfortable at her home grand slam and showed signs of frailty in the second set.

Dushevina, 19, led 5-4 and 6-5 in it before Mauresmo forced a tiebreak. In that the Australian Open champion double-faulted on her first match point, ballooned a forehand and a backhand long on the next two and finally sealed it 7-5 when Dushevina skied a forehand.

SAFIN FINED Russian Nikolay Davydenko coasted 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 of Spain. Moya overcame Russian Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets.

Davydenko's compatriot Marat Safin was given the maximum ,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 Argentine David Nalbandian faced a difficult second round match against French 19-year-old Richard Gasquet and American Venus Williams was due to play Finland's Emma Laine, weather permitting.

Reuters CH VP2346