PARIS, May 28 (UPI) -- Battling the rainy conditions as much as their foes, last year's runner-up Kim Clijsters and three-time champion Monica Seles advanced Tuesday to the second round of the French Open.
But last year's semifinalist, fifth seeded Justin Henin of Belgium, fell to Hungarian qualifier Aniko Kapros, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0, under drizzly skies.
Rain and finally darkness left several first-round matches unfinished on Tuesday.
Clijsters, the fourth seed, made her first appearance here since she lost to Jennifer Capriati, 1-6, 6-4, 12-10, with the longest third set ever at a French Open women's final. On Tuesday, the Belgian overcame Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6, in just under two hours.
The match was one of several that was scheduled for Monday, but postponed due to rain and darkness. It was stopped for over an hour with Clijsters leading, 2-1, in the third set.
Seles rallied past Angeles Montolio of Spain, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-0, after dropping the first five games of the match.
The 26-year-old American did not drop a game after the rain delay at 3-3 in the second set.
After taking a sizable lead to start the match, Henin had a hard time closing out the first set and suffered a complete collapse to the 179th-ranked player in the world in the next two sets. She was wearing a brace on her left thigh and was visited by the trainer while trailing, 4-1, in the second set.
Henin was considered a favorite to reach the final weekend at this event after winning the German Open and appearing in the finals in Rome before arriving in Paris.
In a men's match postponed from Monday, fifth seed and 1996 champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov snapped a six-match losing streak with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1 victory over German qualifier Tomas Behrend.
The 28-year-old Russian notched only his second win in his last 11 matches.
Capriati began defense of her French Open crown against American Marissa Irwin on Tuesday, but the match was suspended with Capriati leading in the opening set, 4-2.
The 26-year-old American displayed the same fighting spirit that brought her a title here this season at the Australian Open when she completed a record comeback for a women's Grand Slam tournament by saving four match points in her championship victory over Martina Hingis. It was her third career Grand Slam crown.
On clay this season, Capriati has reached the semifinals at Charleston and at the German and Italian Opens.
Third-seeded Serena Williams of the United States hopes to continue her hot streak against Martina Sucha of Slovakia. But their first-round encounter never got underway before the suspension of play.
Also, seventh seed Jelena Dokic of Yugoslavia has yet to play. Switzerland's Emmanuelle Gagliardi and No. 9 Silvia Farina Elia, who beat Dokic in the final Sunday at Strasbourg, France, must wait to face 19-year-old Russian Elena Bovina.
On the men's side, No. 8 Roger Federer of Switzerland was upset by Morocco's Hicham Arazi, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, while No. 11 Juan Carlos Ferrero, a two-time semifinalist from Spain, defeated French wild-card Jean-Rene Lisnard, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3.
Second seed Marat Safin of Russia, who is battling a back ailment, was scheduled to play Michael Llodra of France in the first round before play was suspended.
Fourth seed Andre Agassi of the United States will return to the site of one of his greatest achievements, taking on French qualifier Eric Prodon. Agassi won the title here in 1999 to become only the fifth male to complete the career Grand Slam.
A quarterfinalist at Roland Garros last year, the 32-year-old American has reached finals at four of the six tournaments he has played this season, winning three titles, including the TMS Rome three weeks ago.
Also, sixth seed Tim Henman of Britain defeated Spain's Galo Blanco, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
