Tennis: Federer, Henin Reach 3rd Round of French Open

30 May 2007 -- The world's top-ranked tennis players - Roger Federer of Switzerland and Justine Henin of Belgium - have reached the third round of the French Open.

Federer ousted Frenchman Thierry Ascione, 6-1, 6-2, 7-6. v, but he has never won the French Open title.

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Henin, the two-time defending champion, ousted Austrian Tamira Paszek in straight sets, 7-5, 6-1. Henin is looking for her fourth title on the red clay courts in Paris and next plays Mara Santangelo of Italy. Santangelo defeated Thai player Tamarine Tanasugarn in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

Elsewhere in second round matches, Venus Williams of the United States recorded the fastest serve ever in a women's main-draw match. She hit 206 kilometers per hour against compatriot Ashley Harkleroad en route to a 6-1, 7-6 victory. Next up for Williams is fourth-seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Catalina Castano of Colombia.

In men's second round play, Russian Marat Safin lost in straight sets to Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia (6-4, 6-4, 7-5). Tipsarevic plays ninth-seed Tommy Robredo of Spain, a three-sets winner (6-4, 7-5, 6-4) over Kostantinos Economidis of Greece.

Other men's winners included fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo of Spain, and Guillermo Canas of Argentina.

Women's first round winners included Russians Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova - the second and third seeds, and fifth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France.

Men's first round winners included sixth-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who upset 10th-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic (7-5, 6-4, 6-4).

Rain on the first two days of the French Open Sunday and Monday caused a complete revamping of the schedule, and Wednesday's play was interrupted by rain for about 90 minutes. American Serena Williams had her scheduled second round match against Milagros Sequera of Venezuela postponed.

Source: VOA News