Tennis: 2004 French Open

The 2004 French Open is set to start tomorrow, with Roger Federerthe top men's seed, and Justine Henin-Hardenne the top seed for the women.

Here's a link to the official site, where you can get the draws and the results as they happen -

French Open

With sagging shoulders and head bowed, Andre Agassi left the French Open through a courtside doorway Monday, uncertain if he'll return next year.

World number 271 Jerome Haehnel produced the shock result of the year by beating Andre Agassi in the French Open first round.
Frenchman Haehnel beat the sixth seed 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 to delight the home crowds at Roland Garros.

Haehnel, 23, had never played a tour level match before this victory.

Agassi, who has won every Grand Slam in a superb career, had played just one warm-up event in the build-up to Paris, again suffering defeat to an outsider.

His loss will lead to increased speculation that the 34-year-old will retire at the end of the season.

I just got home and jumped online, saw this, and all I have to say is

Yep i was shocked when i see it earlier.

Rusedski got knocked out aswell, but Henman managed to scrape through.

[Edited on 24/5/04 by TRD]

Martina Navratilova's return to singles action after 10 years ended in defeat at the French Open when she was swept aside 6-1 6-3 by Gisela Duklo, an Argentinian 28 years her junior.But, while her tennis unsurprisingly lacked the energy of her opponent, 47-year-old Navratilova lived up to her reputation for controversy during the first-round match when she took to the court wearing a Nike logo on her hat, which apparently breached tour rules.She refused to change her headwear, instead requesting a pair of scissors from the umpire and proceeded to cut off the logo.

In other matches, both Serena and Venus Williams enjoyed comfortable wins on their return to Grand Slam action after injury.Daniela Hantuchova continued her slump down the rankings when she crashed out of the tournament at the first hurdle.

Martina showed heart just being there. too bad for Daniela, she made the list - list link

Yea she did well just to take part. She is much netter in the doubles, less running around to do i guess.

Roger Federer made it into the third round after beating Nicolas Kiefer on the Philippe Chatrier court.

The 'Fed Express' never looked totally convincing, but still had too much for his enigmatic German foe, who has flattered to deceive for much of 2004.

Gustavo Kuerten looked in ominous form against Gilles Elseneer in Paris.


The Brazilian, who always has a big following at Roland Garros, looked to be playing freely at last after struggling with injury for the past few seasons.

The 28th seed breezed to the opening set in just 27 minutes as dominated from the baseline and mixed things up well.

'Guga' was at his grunting best in the next, as he bullied the Belgian to all parts of the court and won the set 6-0.

Just 35 minutes after that it was all over with Kuerten, who hit an impressive 32 winners in the match, prevailing 6-2 6-0 6-3.

Albert Costa wasted little time in beating Belgian tryer Christophe Rochus on Thursday morning.


Lleyton Hewitt made it into the last 32 at Roland Gaross after beating Jurgen Melzer in four sets.

Sebastien Grosjean was sensationally dumped out by Potito Starace.

The tenth seed, a former semi-finalist, looked desperately out of sorts against the Italian qualifier, making his first appearance in the main draw at Roland Garros this year.

Starace played intelligently throughout, and edged the first set on a tense tie-break.

He then began to settle down against a clearly ruffled Grosjean, who hit an incredible 41 unforced errors in the match.

Starace took the second set and kept the momentum to stun the home fans on the Suzanne Lenglen court by wrapping up a 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 6-4 victory.

David Nalbandian survied an early scare to book his place in round three.

The Argentine eighth seed lost the opening set to unheralded Colombian Alejandro Falla, but hit back in style to win in four.

Venus Williams cruised into round three at the expense of Jelena Kostanic.

The America fourth seed, who has battled agaist injury for much of 2004, was always the boss against her Croatian foe, who looked a little intimidated in front of a near full Phillipe Chatrier court.

Venus, who hit 16 winners in the match, eventually ran out a comfortable 6-3 6-3 winner though never looked totally assured.



Her sister Serena Williams on the other hand was given the fright of her tennis life by 17-year-old Russian Maria Kirilenko.

For a shade more than two hours the number two seed, easily the best woman player on the planet, looked in serious danger of taking a humiliating second-round exit at Roland Garros to a girl ranked 100 in the world before rallying for a 4-6 6-2 6-4 victory.

Jennifer Capriati overcame Kveta Peschke to book her place in round three.

The American seventh seed produced a workmanlike performance to oust her Czech opponent, who was always competetive.



Mary Pierce cruised to a straight-sets win over Gala Leon Garcia on the Suzanne Lenglen court.

Pierce, a former winner at Roland Garros in 2000, was always in command against her Spanish opponent and dominated from the baseline throughout.

Anastasia Myskina defied a shoulder problem to ease past Barbora Strycova at Roland Garros.

The Russian, seeded 6 this year, romped to the opening set without losing a game but was not moving freely in the second.



Svetlana Kuznetsova breezed past Barbara Rittner and into round three.

The Russian 11th seed always looked comfortable on the surface against her German foe, who try as she might could not find any answers from the baseline or around the net.