SECOND seed Rafael Nadal made predictably swift progress at Wimbledon yesterday, sweeping aside the challenge of Austrian veteran Werner Eschauer.

Roger Federer was left distinctly unimpressed after he was forced to play the latter part of his second-round win over Thierry Ascione at the French Open in near-darkness last night.

IT was a day to forget for the United States at the French Open yesterday, with their nine-strong contingent of men’s singles players making history for the wrong reasons.

Rain seems to be the only factor capable of stalling Roger Federer as the Swiss star looks on the verge of making short work of Michael Russell in the first round of the French Open at Roland Garros.

Nikolay Davydenko was probably the only person inside Roland Garros who was delighted to see the rain come lashing down just after 11am on Monday.