Tennis: Federer breaks record, Henin coasts

LONDON - Roger Federer penned another elegant page in tennis history when he broke Bjorn Borg's record for consecutive wins on grass at Wimbledon overnight.

The triple defending champion completed a 6-3 6-2 6-2 first round victory over Frenchman Richard Gasquet on centre court, his 42nd successive win on his favourite surface.

French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne lost only one game in her first round match against a hopelessly outclassed Yuan Meng, of China, and Swiss Martina Hingis also won easily on her return to the All England Club after a five-year absence.

Federer, who had led by a set overnight following rain-affected yesterday, had earlier said he did not want any special presentation to mark his achievement in surpassing Borg's professional era record.

The Swiss world No 1 has bigger prizes in his sights and is trying to become only the third man in the professional era to win Wimbledon four consecutive times after Borg and Pete Sampras.

He marked today's achievement by slipping on the personalised cream jacket he is wearing on to court at Wimbledon this year and raising his racket to the applauding crowd.

"It's nice to get any streak," Federer said.

"I hope I can keep it going and make it last longer. I'm surprised myself I've kept it going for so long."

Henin-Hardenne buried memories of her shock first round defeat by Greek Eleni Daniilidou last year with a ruthless 6-0 6-1 win over Yuan.

The Belgian played and won the Eastbourne warm-up event this year and looked in ruthless form as she embarked on her bid to complete her full Grand Slam set.

"I was a bit tired from my last two matches in Eastbourne but the rain yesterday helped me a little bit," she said.

"I played well, very consistent, pretty aggressive. That's the kind of match you need in your first rounds."

Hingis was also a shock first-round loser on her last Wimbledon appearance in 2001 but the 1997 champion was a set up overnight and was never troubled on the resumption, completing a 6-2 6-2 win over Ukrainian Olga Savchuk.

Swede Thomas Johansson was the highest men's seed to exit.

The 12th seed lost 3-6 7-6 6-1 6-1 to 34-year-old compatriot Jonas Bjorkman.

French 21st seed Gael Monfils also lost. The 19-year-old former Wimbledon junior champion has been suffering from a back problem and looked unhappy in a 5-7 7-6 6-3 6-4 loss to Russian Igor Kunitsyn, who had not won a match on tour this year before today.

Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova, the fifth seed and French Open runner-up, celebrated her 21st birthday with a 6-3 6-2 win over Italian qualifier Romina Oprandi.

Men's fourth seed David Nalbandian, of Argentina, outclassed South African Wesley Moodie 6-3 6-4 6-1 while American eighth seed James Blake needed four sets to dispatch Danish qualifier Kristian Pless.

Seventh seed Mario Ancic, of Croatia, and Czech No 13 Tomas Berdych both won comfortably.

They are in the same quarter of the draw as Federer.

- REUTERS