Paris: Roger Federer swept qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta on Sunday in the first round of the French Open, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.
Playing at Roland Garros for the 15th year in a row, Federer earned a big roar from the center court crowd after he closed out the victory with a picturesque backhand winner. Federer lost only seven points on his first serve and was broken just once by Carreno Busta.
The 21-year-old Spaniard was making his Grand Slam debut after winning seven consecutive Futures events. Federer, the 2009 champion, remained unbeaten in first-round matches at major tournaments since 2003.
Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt lost a seesaw marathon to No. 15-seeded Gilles Simon, 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-5. Simon overcame a two-set deficit to win for the first time in his career despite blowing a 5-love lead in the final set of the first-round match. The Frenchman steadied himself to hold for 6-5, then broke at love in the final game.
The 32-year-old Hewitt, who is ranked 86th, was playing in his 13th French Open. He fell to 0-3 this year on clay.
Top American Sam Querrey equaled his best showing ever at the French Open merely by winning a match.
Querrey, the highest-ranked U.S. man at No. 20, reached the second round for only the second time by beating Lukas Lacko 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday. Querrey hit 10 aces, lost only six points on his first serve and improved to 2-3 this year on clay.
Querrey had been eliminated the first round at Roland Garros five times. He made the second round before losing in 2011.
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