Federer continues French Open bid

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May 31, 2006 10:41 IST

World number one Roger Federer continues his bid to win the only Grand Slam title to elude him when he takes on Colombian Alejandro Falla in the second round of the French Open on Wednesday.

The Swiss has never been beyond the semi-finals at Roland Garros. He lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal of Spain at that stage last year and the pair are seeded to meet again in this year's final.

Federer beat Falla, the world number 139, in their only previous meeting, on Centre Court at Wimbledon in the second round in 2004, when Federer dropped just three games in winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-0.

Federer will be on Court Suzanne Lenglen on Wednesday - as will women's top seed Amelie Mauresmo - while Maria Sharapova, David Nalbandian and Venus Williams are in action on Centre Court.

Former Wimbledon champion Sharapova, a quarter-finalist in each of the past two years in Paris, takes on Czech Iveta Benesova, having saved three match points in her first round match against American Mashona Washington.

The Russian was struggling with an ankle injury in the build-up to the event and said she did not know how far she could go this year.

"I'm here to hold that trophy and I'm going to do everything that's possible to win, if I can," she said.

"If I feel like my ankle is not great and I have to stop, I have to stop. I'm 19 years old. I'm gonna play these Slams for many more years."

Top seed and world number one Mauresmo, who has suffered from nerves in front of her home crowd in the past, plays Russian Vera Dushevina while Williams, the 11th seed, faces Emma Laine of Finland.

The biggest crowd of the day is likely to be reserved for the third match on centre court when home favourite Richard Gasquet takes on Argentine Nalbandian, the men's third seed.

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