By Chrs Davies
May 27 2003

Kim Clijsters swept past Amy Frazier in only a 45 minute clash but sad news as Monica Seles the 12th seed lost and also Elena Dementieva and Amanda Coetzer exiting in the first round Clijsters serve was broken once in the match but Frazier was nowhere near the level that the Belgian number one is at the moment winning the first set 6-2.

Then there was no stopping or holding back of the power and good court craft from Kim who is the favourite for the Roland Garros title easily demolishing the American.

Lindsay Davenport was in cruise control against small Prakusya with her powerful groundstrokes and serve working well. This is her first European clay tournament this year and her first appearance since getting married.

On the adjacent court to Davenport fellow American Jennifer Capriati was less impressive and didn't look like she has what it takes to lift her second Roland Garros title. Kruger didn't worry Capriati and the only games she did win was breaking the 7th seeds serve but the American was glad to get it over and done with after a below par performance.

Monica Seles was up against a tough opponent in Nadia Petrova who she had lost to two weeks ago. The story was the same this time around with the Russian matching and bettering the power of Seles and won the first set 6-4. Early in the second set there were glimpses that the 12th seed could sneak back in but it wasn't to be losing it 6-0.

This is Monica's worst performance at the French Open with her record before this loss standing at never losing before the quarter-finals.

Venus Williams returned back to action against fellow American Samantha Reeves but not vintage Williams. The normal powerful and accurate serve of the world number 3 can just be enough for her to advance but today her serve was not standing up getting broken on number of occassions. If she wants to win this title she will have to play her best tennis all way through this tournament or she will be flying home early. But Venus advanced in pretty straight forward thanks to her opponent not being able to dominate enough balls.



A shock loss for 13th seed Elena Dementieva against a in-form Spaniard Maria-Sanchez Lorenzo who reached the final of last weeks Madrid Open beating Barbara Schett and taking Silvia Farina Elia to a tight 3 set match. Dementieva has not been on top form since winning her first title in Amelia Island beating Justine Henin-Hardenne and Lindsay Davenport at Bausch and Lomb Championships struggling in the tournaments to find her form again. Lorenzo continued her fab form crushing the Russian 6-3, 6-3.

Other seeds also advanced playing their matches first thing including Jelena Dokic, Paola Suarez. Vera Zvonareva all in straight sets.