Paris: Sania Mirza's campaign in the women's singles event at the French Open came to an early end as she went out in the first round at the Roland Garros on Tuesday.

Anastasia Myskina, the 2004 champion and seeded 10th this year, proved to be too good for the 19-year old Indian and came through 6-4, 6-1 at the Suzanne Lenglen court.

Meanwhile, Martina Hingis, back at the tournament after a five-year absence, said she's relaxed but hungry to win and better than before. She looked the part on Tuesday, beating Lisa Raymond 6-2, 6-2.

The victory was the 32nd of Hingis's career at Roland Garros, but her first since being sidelined for three years by foot and ankle injuries. "Somehow it didn't feel like it's that long," she said.

Title favourite

The five-time Grand Slam champion is seeded 12th and considered a title threat after winning last week at Rome, her first championship since returning to the tour in January.

She played at Roland Garros for the first time since losing to eventual champion Jennifer Capriati in the 2001 semifinals.

"Today I would probably beat the Martina back then," Hingis said. "I have weapons today — the brains and everything, experience and more mature. ... I'm really more relaxed now."

Hingis, 25, was the French Open runner-up in 1997 and 1999. It's the only major event she is yet to win.

In the Sania-Myskina encounter, the Indian matched her 24-year old opponent shot for shot initially, breaking her twice in the first set, but could not hold on to the advantage on both the occasions.

The player from Hyderabad had two more breakpoints but Myskina skillfully wriggled out of the tight situations.

Slice of fortune

The crucial moment came in the 10th game when a little piece of fortune swung the momentum in the Russian's favour.

A backhand retrieve on return of serve from Myskina clipped the net and fell on the vacant part of Sania's court. That paved the way for a double breakpoint to the former champion and she converted it with a backhand down the line winner.

Myskina, the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam, was on a roll in the second set.

After Sania had held serve in the first game, Myskina won five games in a row, breaking the Indian in the fourth and sixth games, to cruise to victory.

What undermined Sania was her 37 unforced errors, compared to 25 by Myskina. The latter also led on total points won, 64-41.

Myskina said it was an open secret that Sania did not like playing on clay.

"Clay is not her surface for sure. I don't think she likes playing here because it is long rallies for her and she likes to hit the ball. She doesn't have a lot of patience for here."

Myskina's doubts

Sania said she wanted to be in the top 15 by 2006-end. "My goal this year is to stay in the top-50. I still want to say I want to be in the top-15." But Myskina had her doubts. "I don't know if she (Sania) can be top 20. But if she can win for the grass season, she is going to be really good," said the Russian.

In other matches, No. 13 Anna-Lena Groenefeld, No. 15 Daniela Hantuchova and No. 19 Ana Ivanovic advanced in straight sets. No. 23 Tatiana Golovin of France lost to Zheng Jie 6-3, 7-6(5).

On the men's side, No. 25 Gael Monfils of France won a matchup of 19-year-olds, beating Andy Murray in five sets. Murray struggled after receiving treatment for a back injury midway through the match.

"It just feels real tight," Murray said. "I couldn't serve. It doesn't help when you're serving about 50 or 60 mph."

No. 4 Ivan Ljubicic beat Carlos Berlocq 6-2, 6-0, 6-3, while Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis, seeded 19th, eliminated Albert Portas 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1. — Agencies

THE RESULTS

Prefix denotes seedings

Men's singles: First round: Albert Montanes (Esp) bt 17-Robby Ginepri (U.S.) 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-1, 6-4; 23-Tommy Haas (Ger) bt Rainer Schuettler (Ger) 6-4, 6-3, 6-3; 27-Olivier Rochus (Bel) bt Jean-Christophe Faurel (Fra) 6-1, 6-4, 6-2; Davide Sanguinetti (Ita) bt Daniele Bracciali (Ita) 3-6, 7-6(10), 6-3, 6-3; 19-Marcos Baghdatis (Cyp) bt Albert Portas (Esp) 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1; 28-Fernando Verdasco (Esp) bt Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg) 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-4.

Jiri Vanek (Cze) bt Nicolas Mahut (Fra) 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-7(5), 7-6(3); 22-Dominik Hrbaty (Svk) bt Sergio Roitman (Arg) 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3;

12-Mario Ancic (Cro) bt Nathan Healey (Aus) 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1; Lukas Dlouhy (Cze) bt Kristof Vliegen (Bel) 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2; Nicolas Lapentti (Ecu) bt Wesley Moodie (RSA) 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(5), 6-7(5), 6-2; Nicolas Almagro (Esp) bt Wayne Arthurs (Aus) 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.

Women: First Round: 10-Anastasia Myskina (Rus) bt Sania Mirza (Ind) 6-4, 6-1; 12-Martina Hingis (Sui) bt Lisa Raymond (U.S) 6-2, 6-2; 15-Daniela Hantuchova (Svk) bt Lourdes Dominguez Lino (Esp) 6-1, 6-4; Jie Zheng (Chn) bt 23-Tatiana Golovin (Fra) 6-3, 7-6(5); 19-Ana Ivanovic (SCG) bt Samantha Stosur (Aus) 6-0, 6-3; 13-Anna-Lena Groenefeld (Ger) bt Camille Pin (Fra) 6-1, 6-1; Shenay Perry (U.S.) bt Shinobu Asagoe (Jpn) 6-3, 6-1.

2-Kim Clijsters (Bel) bt Virginie Razzano (Fra) 6-0, 7-6(4); 11-Venus Williams (U.S.) bt Sybille Bammer (Aut) 6-4, 6-3; 6-Elena Dementieva (Rus) bt Martina Sucha (Svk) 7-6(3), 6-2; Alicia Molik (Aus) bt Antonella Serra Zanetti (Ita) 7-5, 7-6(3); Anda Perianu (Rom) bt 28-Lucie Safarova (Cze) 6-1, 7-6(7);Li Na (Chn) bt Amy Frazier (US) 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-1.

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