Kuerten scrapes through;
Roddick bows out

The world's greatest tennis players finally got a chance to shine on the Roland Garros clay courts on Wednesday, but soccer's World Cup still took centre stage on day three of the French Open.

The rain stayed away at last as Andre Agassi, Venus Williams, Lleyton Hewitt, Kim Clijsters, Marat Safin and defending champions Gustavo Kuerten and Jennifer Capriati all clinched victories at the claycourt grand slam event.

But it was Serena Williams's bizarre Cameroon soccer replica outfit which stole the show in the couture capital of the world.

Striding on to centre court in a sleeveless green shirt, red shorts and yellow knee-high socks, the American third seed left fans and officials agog.

"Cameroon are the best African team and are known for their fighting skills so those credentials are good enough for me," she smiled when quizzed about her extraordinary ensemble, suggested by her sponsor which also produces the Cameroon kit.

"My trainer hates it but I know you guys are crazy about them," she laughed when asked about her socks.

The only person not distracted by Williams's comical appearance was the American herself, and she thumped Slovakian Martina Sucha 6-3, 6-0 to reach the second round.

SURPRISINGLY UNDERSTATED

Top seed Capriati also cruised into the second round, beating fellow American Marissa Irvin 6-3, 6-4.

"I feel pretty good and believe I'm getting better with each tournament. So hopefully I can peak here like I did last year," the champion said.

Serena's big sister Venus is one round ahead, though, having got her first-round match out of the way on Monday before the rains which plagued the opening two days began.

On Wednesday the second-seeded Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion, dressed in a surprisingly understated white dress, walloped Wynne Prakusya 6-0, 6-1 to move into the third round.

In the men's draw, top seed Hewitt came from behind to beat Russia's Andrei Stoliarov 4-6, 7-6, 6-0, 7-5 in a second round match while 1999 champion Agassi beat Eric Prodon, of France, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in the first round.

Kuerten was forced to fight for his life as he finally eked out a second-round 6-7, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Italy's Davide Sanguinetti.

Second seed Safin moved into the second round with victory over France's Michael Llodra 6-4, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 but American 13th seed Andy Roddick fell at the first hurdle losing to Wayne Arthurs 4-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

BESOTTED FANS

Roddick was not the only heartthrob to disappear, as Anna Kournikova left her legion of besotted fans heartbroken with a lacklustre first-round defeat.

The Russian's appearance drew a customary large crowd for her court two clash with Australian wildcard Christina Wheeler.

But while her appearance -- as ever -- had Parisian tongues wagging, her performance was something best forgotten.

Dressed in her retro 1970s outfit of yellow sleeveless top and white hot-pants, Kournikova was again the focus of dozens of media photographers and television cameramen.

But her tennis in no way merited the attention thrust on the Russian.

Still without a title after seven years on the WTA circuit, Kournikova sprayed wild errors around the bull-ring arena in a display of sloppy tennis.

She produced 48 unforced errors to head for the exit at the very first hurdle.

MORE DEPENDABLE

"I want to improve and obviously I have to work on some things that haven't necessarily been done right in the past. I have to make my game more dependable," she said.

Former champion Mary Pierce, however, provided ample compensation for the Roland Garros crowds as she elbowed aside Irina Selyutina, of Kazakhstan, 7-5, 7-5.

Canadian-born but a French national, Pierce's relationship with the French crowd has not always been a smooth one.

On Wednesday, however, she was cheered from the start as she made her first appearance at Roland Garros since lifting the title in 2000.

"I am simply happy to be here in good health and able to play," she said after easing into the second round.

Tendinitis to both ankles, a chronic spinal inflammation as well as shoulder and stomach pains sidelined her for much of 2001 and she is now dreaming of repeating former glories.

"I really wish I could live this one more time," she said when asked of her 2000 triumph here.

Other former champions whose campaigns ended in less triumphant fashion included Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Former three-times champion Sanchez-Vicario was thrashed by fellow Spaniard Marta Marrero 6-0, 6-1 while Kafelnikov -- fifth seed here but with his thoughts clearly on Davis Cup and impending retirement -- bowed out with a whimper, falling 7-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 to Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina.