Fed express roars into round two

Wimbledon champion Roger Federer fired an ominous warning to rest of the tournament as he crushed Belgian Kristof Vliegen in straight sets to cruise into the second round of the French Open.

Federer, who suffered first-round exits at Roland Garros in both 2002 and 2003, impressed the crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen required just one hour and 16 minutes to despatch his inexperienced opponent 6-1 6-2 6-1.

The world number one and top seed started the game at breakneck speed, winning the first set 6-1 in just 20 minutes after breaking in his opponent’s first three service games.

Although 21-year-old Vliegen proved more resilient at the start of the second set, Federer had no problems breaking his serve twice to take a 5-2 lead.

He then served out for the scond set which he won in just 30 minutes with a clinical forehand.

Federer, who is one of the favourites to lift the trophy, showed no mercy to Vliegen in the final set, sealing victory on third match point with a forehand winner.

In the women’s draw, 2000 champion Mary Pierce brushed aside Luxemburg’s Claudine Schaul in straight sets. The 29-year-old Frenchwoman, the 30th seed who bowed out in the first round in Paris last year, needed only an hour and 14 minutes to thrash Schaul 6-2 6-3.