Venus joins Serena in 2nd round

PARIS – As rain delayed the start of what would be Venus Williams’ first victory in a Grand Slam match in 11 months, video screens atop Court Philippe Chatrier showed footage from her 2002 French Open final against younger sister Serena.

Ah, how things have changed. Back then, Williams played Williams for the championship at major after major. These days, because of injuries and other issues, it’s an accomplishment when both manage to show up.

So Venus Williams simply was happy to be there Monday at this French Open, and she played that way at times, too. Eventually, she asserted herself enough against French wild-card entry Alize Cornet for a 6-4, 6-3 win that put the Williams siblings in the second round at a Grand Slam for the first time since 2005.

“The most important thing is that I’m on tour, and as long as I’m on tour, I feel like really good things can happen to me,” said Venus..

Because of showers, only seven of 65 scheduled matches were finished Monday – the same number completed Sunday, when 2002 champion Serena won.

Those left in limbo overnight included top-ranked Roger Federer, leading Michael Russell of the United States 6-4, 4-1 when play was halted, and 2003 French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, down 4-3 in the first set but about to serve against Amer Delic of the United States.

Fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, a semifinalist at the 2005 French Open and last year’s U.S. Open, was the only man who advanced, closing out his 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 win over Stefano Galvani of Italy as showers fell.

The first seeded player to exit the tournament was women’s No. 31 Severine Bremond of France, a 6-3, 6-3 loser to Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands.

Other women’s winners: No. 27 Samantha Stosur of Australia, who beat Jamea Jackson of the United States 6-1, 6-2; No. 16 Li Na of China; No. 19 Tathiana Garbin of Italy; and unseeded American Ashley Harkleroad, who defeated Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada 6-2, 7-6 (1).