Associated Press

Paris, May 26:

Justine Henin-Hardenne’s latest ailment failed to slow her down on Thursday at the French Open. The tournament favourite and 2003 champion required treatment for a back injury that bothered her serve, yet she still advanced to the third round by beating Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-1, 6-4.

After taking a 5-0 lead, Henin-Hardenne requested treatment during the changeover and grimaced as she stretched her back with help from a trainer. Henin-Hardenne said the previously undisclosed injury involves a nerve, dates back at least six weeks and isn’t serious.

Henin-Hardenne hit eight double faults and has 17 in two matches. She made only 45 per cent of her first serves and was broken three times in the second set.

Russian Maria Sharapova, seeded second, committed just 13 unforced errors and beat 18-year-old Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai 6-3, 6-2.

No 3-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France defeated 15-year-old countrywoman Alize Cornet 6-0, 6-2. US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded sixth, swept Sofia Arvidsson 6-3, 6-4.

No 7 Nadia Petrova beat Frenchwoman Severine Beltrame 6-1, 6-3. No 24 Magdalena Maleeva lost to Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-4.

In men’s play, 2004 runner-up Guillermo Coria, seeded eighth, won when 18-year-old qualifier Novak Djokovic retired with respiratory trouble trailing 4-6, 6-2, 3-2. Djokovic said a sinus problem has bothered him for about a year.

Also retiring was American Vince Spadea, who quit because of a strained muscle when trailing No 21 Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-3. Spadea said he’ll be out for four to six weeks. No 9 Guillermo Canas beat Albert Montanes 6-1, 6-3, 6-4.