Tennis: Nadal breaks claycourt record with Soderling win

Rafael Nadal

PARIS - Still five days short of his 20th birthday, Rafael Nadal set a new benchmark in claycourt tennis today when he broke the men's record for consecutive wins on the sport's most sapping surface.

The extraordinary Mallorcan, who won the French Open on his debut last year, surpassed Argentine Guillermo Vilas's men's professional era streak of 53 consecutive wins on clay by beating Swede Robin Soderling 6-2 7-5 6-1 in the first round.

Women's contenders Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams also won their opening matches on a blustery day in the French capital but Nadal's feat of clay hogged all the attention.

Vilas, who set his record in 1977, presented the Spanish teenager with a trophy on the Roland Garros centre court to mark the achievement. "I'm very happy. It's a special moment," said Nadal.

"Thanks to everyone, thanks to the fans. It's thanks to you that I can achieve this." Clijsters blew hot and cold before advancing to the second round with a 6-0 7-6 victory over France's Virginie Razzano.

The gusting wind proved no distraction for the twice former Roland Garros runner-up in the first set which the Belgian second seed won in 22 minutes.

Clijsters, though, is short of match practice and she had to save three set points in the second set before wrapping up victory 7-4 in the tiebreak when Razzano tamely netted a forehand.

"In the second set I was making way too many unforced errors," admitted the US Open champion. "This has been the most wind I've ever played in. It was tough conditions out there."

Williams's year has been even more badly disrupted by injury but the 2002 runner-up, who is seeded 11th, looked sharp enough in a 6-4 6-3 win over Austrian Sybille Bammer.

"I'm fit and strong, pretty healthy," said the Wimbledon champion. "I should be pretty fresh compared to some other players."

Poor start

The 2004 runner-up, Elena Dementieva, shook off a poor start against Slovakia's Martina Sucha. The sixth seed trailed 5-1 in the first set before winning 7-6 6-2. Compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded eighth, also started with a win.

Russian 18th seed Elena Likhovtseva, who reached the semi-finals last year, suffered a first-round shock when she was hammered 6-1 6-1 by Croatia's Karolina Sprem out on court 17.

Another Russian, men's sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko started with a 7-5 6-4 6-4 triumph against American Vince Spadea.

His compatriot, eighth seed James Blake overcame Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan 6-0 6-4 7-6. Blake has never gone beyond the second round at Roland Garros and he next faces Spanish clay specialist Nicolas Almagro, who beat Australian Wayne Arthurs in straight sets.

"It's going to be interesting," said Blake. "I'm really excited because it's going to be a test to see how I do against the best clay courters."

Former champions Gaston Gaudio and Juan Carlos Ferrero marched through to the second round.

Gaudio, the 10th seed who won the claycourt grand slam in 2004, ended a three-match losing streak with a stylish 6-2 6-2 6-2 thrashing of Croatian qualifier Roko Karanusic.

"It was quite easy to win for me," said the Argentine. "It's the first time he played in Roland Garros, so I made the most of that opportunity."

Ferrero, the 2003 champion, had a little more difficulty disposing of 17-year-old Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro but eventually his pedigree saw him through 6-3 2-6 6-2 6-4.

The number 24 seed is in line to meet Gaudio in the third round.

Swiss women's seventh seed Patty Schnyder made light work of Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek, winning their first round match 6-1 6-2.

- REUTERS