Henin begins title defence with battling win

PARIS, May 27 (Reuters) Justin Henin opened the defence of her French Open crown with a battling 6-4 6-3 win over 20-year-old Russian Elena Vesnina today.

After a wait of nearly six hours because of rain, the world number one, who won the title in 2003, 2005 and 2006, came from 3-1 down in the second set to clinch victory and set up a clash with Austrian Tamira Paszek.

Belgian Henin was broken when serving for the first set at 5-3 but the lapse was only temporary as she broke in the next game to clinch the set.

Vesnina, the world number 65, showed her potential as she broke on her way to a 3-1 lead in the second set but Henin then reeled off five consecutive games to advance to round two.

REUTERS SLD BST2355