Williams keeps her feet on wet day in Paris

American advances in unimpressive style as injury brings early end to Lee's French Open debut

While some of the major players were finding their feet on a cold, wet opening day here at the French Open, Martin Lee's first adventure on the clay at Roland Garros ended in retirement because of a groin injury.

The British No 3 was trailing Andrei Pavel, of Romania, the 22nd seed, 6-1, 5-4, when he decided he could not continue. Lee, who had an operation on the groin last year, injured the muscle while playing in the World Team Cup in Düsseldorf last week.

As far as Britain's participation in the singles championship is concerned, the lone contender is Tim Henman, the sixth seed, who is due to play his opening match today against Galo Blanco, of Spain.

Although rain delays spoiled the continuity of yesterday's programme – Pete Sampras was left on the verge of another empty-handed visit to Paris, having receiving a warning after belting a ball in frustration during his first-round match against Italy's Andrea Gaudenzi – other players emerged dry and happy.

Venus Williams, dispatched in the first round of the women's singles last year by Barbara Schett, of Austria, defeated Bianka Lamade, a 19-year-old from Germany, 6-3, 6-3. It was not an impressive display, Williams contributing 35 unforced errors to a total of 78, but it was a start for the second seed, who recently injured her right wrist lifting a bag.

"My first serve percentage was down, but my second serve just kept going, so that was nice," Williams said. Having won the Wimbledon and US Open titles for the past two years, Williams has yet to advance beyond the quarter-finals at this tournament.

Analysing her record at Roland Garros, she says: "Last year I had one bad day – finished. I couldn't hit a ball in that day. Grass, or hard court, or indoors, I wouldn't have won that day. Generally I've just had bad luck, and I've made bad decisions. In 1997 I just didn't know how to win. In '98 I tried to hit the ball too hard, because the previous time I played on clay I hit it too soft. In '99 I had three match points. In 2000 I was just coming back from injury. My mind was there, but I just couldn't get my game to do what I wanted. I could visualise it, but I just couldn't do it."

Amelie Mauresmo, who last year fell in the opening round, returned to Court Philippe Chatrier yesterday and defeated Camille Pin, a French wild card, 6-4, 6-1. "I thought about what happened last year," Mauresmo said, "and I am happy with my match today, even though there were some ups and downs. I think I'm quite relaxed now I'm through the first round. There might be a few flashbacks, but basically it will be exorcising what happened."

Arnaud Clement, fancied to do well last year as the French No 1, after starting the season as a finalist at the Australian Open, was then defeated in the first round by Mariano Puerta, of Argentina, 9-7 in the fifth set. Yesterday Clement defeated Julien Benneteau, a French wild card, 6-0, 6-1, 6-4. "I did hit the headlines last year," Clement said. "Perhaps I'm less tense."

Todd Martin won his first match at Roland Garros for seven years. The 31-year-old American overcame Martin Arguello Vassello, an Argentinian qualifier, 6-2, 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-5.

Lleyton Hewitt, the world No 1, did not exactly shine while defeating Andre Sa, of Brazil, 7-5, 6-4, 7-5, but was pleased with the result. "It's tough when you don't put your clay court shoes on for 10 months a year, then whack 'em on," the Australian said.

"Most of these other guys guys grow up on this surface. They're used to the sliding, the tactics and strategy of playing on clay, whereas I have to change it a little bit. It takes me a bit more time. It was very up and down the whole match. I felt like I could have run away with the third set at 2-1, 40-30. Then a dead net cord hit a line."

Although the rain came with the score at 5-5 the third set, Hewitt and Sa played through it to a finish.

Gustavo Kuerten, who recently returned to the tour after hip surgery, took his first tentative steps towards winning the title for the third consecutive time with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 win against Ivo Heuberger, of Switzerland.

"After the first set I could start to enjoy the match, the public and everything," Kuerten said. "At the end I felt a good vibration from the crowd."

* Richard Krajicek's decision that he is not ready to play at Surbiton next week may have saved the Lawn Tennis Association embarrassment. The 1996 Wimbledon champion, who has not played singles for 18 months because of an elbow injury, missed the deadline for Surbiton and then asked for a wild card. An LTA spokesman said: "Krajicek would be a tremendous asset to the Surbiton trophy. However, the policy regarding wild cards for a $50,000 [£35,000] tournament in this country is to give first consideration to deserving British players."