Canas glad to be in grand slam circle after doping ban

PARIS, May 29 (Reuters) Argentina's Guillermo Canas celebrated his return to grand slam action after a two-year gap with a 6-3 6-1 6-4 win over Victor Hanescu of Romania in the first round of the French Open today.

Playing at a major for the first time since serving a 15-month doping ban, 19th seed Canas was delighted to be back despite being relegated to a far-flung court 16 for his contest.

''I would have preferred to have played in the big stadiums but I really didn't care as it's great to be in the French Open again,'' said Canas.

Canas, twice a Roland Garros quarter-finalist, was left in tennis wilderness after he tested positive for a banned steroid in February 2005.

While his return to the tour last September was low-key, he stunned world number one Roger Federer at Indian Wells in March and proved the feat was no fluke when he beat the Swiss again two weeks later in Miami.

Canas admitted the lure of playing at the grand slams helped him to make a successful comeback.

''I knew I was gonna play this kind of tournament again when I was suspended but I didn't know when,'' said the 29-year-old.

''But I knew I would play a grand slam again.'' Three years on from when Gaston Gaudio beat Guillermo Coria in an all-Argentine final, Canas now finds himself as his nation's best hope of winning a major along with David Nalbandian.

''I'm not sure if I'm ready to accept the additional pressure,'' he said. ''The only thing I need to do here is to have fun, to enjoy it, and if it turns out right, I'll be very happy, because that's why I came here.'' Canas now meets Simone Bolelli of Italy in the second round.

REUTERS SAM BD2253