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Paris - Fernando Verdasco cruised into the second round of the French Open with a straight-set win on Tuesday and, more importantly, didn't get into another war of words with the French fans.
Verdasco, who defeated Igor Kunitsyn of Russia 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, noticed that the French spectators didn't hold a grudge after he insulted them last week in Nice. Verdasco lost his temper during his 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5) loss to Richard Gasquet in the final of the Nice Open, shouting obscenities at the crowd which was booing him.
After his ruthless win over Kunitsyn, Verdasco looked like he wanted to make amends for his bad behavior, greeting the French fans with cheers before throwing his wristband into the stands.
"No problem for me today," Verdasco said about the crowd's attitude. "Of course, you expect the worst all the time. If it's the worst you're not going to be disappointed, not badly surprised."
After the match, Verdasco was bombarded with questions concerning the incident in Nice, but the left-handed Spaniard wouldn't be drawn into the matter.
"There's nothing I can add about this," Verdasco said. "Well, the bad news always have an impact, not just for me. That's the case for many people. I'm not going to say anything else on the court. I'm not going to say anything against anybody. I'm here to play tennis and that's all, and to play my best Roland Garros."
Against Kunitsyn, Verdasco was in total control, converting six of his 10 break points and posting 20 forehand winners.
"I'm happy, the first match is always tough," he said. "It was also a bit hard to get used to the conditions. The court was fast. Not too much clay. It was a little bit difficult to get used to it, but after a few games, I started feeling better."
After winning in Barcelona and reaching the final in Monte Carlo and Nice last week, Verdasco is hoping to make a deep run at the French Open, where he has never advanced beyond the round of 16.
"I feel good and I think this could be a good tournament for me," the former Australian Open semifinalist said. "Now, I don't know if I'm going to win or not. There's a long way to go and I have a very tough draw."
Day Three Results (x denotes seeding):
Men - First
Round
Andy Roddick (USA x6) bt Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3
Blaz Kavcic (SLO) bt Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 4-0 - retired
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) bt Daniel Kellerer (AUT) 6-2, 6-2, 6-1
Grega Zemlja (SLO) bt Juan Monaco (ARG x26) 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
Jurgen Melzer (AUT x22) bt Dudi Sela (ISR) 7-5, 6-2, 6-4
Nicolas Mahut (FRA) bt Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP x16) bt Pablo Cuevas (URU) 6-4, 6-3, 6-1
Pere Riba (ESP) bt Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5)
Potito Starace (ITA) bt Illya Marchenko (UKR) 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3
Robby Ginepri (USA) bt Sam Querrey (USA x18) 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-2
Fernando Verdasco (ESP x7) bt Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
Florent Serra (FRA) bt Michael Russell (USA) 6-4, 6-0, 6-1
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER x30) bt Karol Beck (SVK) 7-6 (9/7), 6-1, 6
Women - First Round
Jill Craybas (USA) bt Katie O'Brien (GBR) 6-0, 4-6, 6-2
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x29) bt Alize Cornet (FRA) 6-4, 6-2
Shahar Peer (ISR x18) bt Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) 6-1, 6-4
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) bt Vania King (USA) 6-2, 6-2
Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) bt Ayumi Morita (JPN) 6-1, 6-4
Klara Zakopalova (CZE) bt Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-2
Justine Henin (BEL x22) bt Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 6-4, 6-3
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK x23) bt Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) 6-1, 6-1
Olga Govortsova (BLR) bt Carla Suerez Navarro (ESP) 7-6 (11/9), 6-1
Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) bt Dinara Safina (RUS x9) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
Jarmila Groth (AUS) bt Chan Yung-Jan (TPE) 6-2, 6-3
Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) bt Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 6-3, 6-2
Vera Zvonareva (RUS x21) bt Alberta Brianti (ITA) 6-3, 6-1
