Three-time winner Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario suffered arguably her worst defeat here ever on Wednesday, the No15 seed crushed by countrywoman Marta Marrero 6-0 6-1 in 52 minutes on Court Seven.
Making her 16th appearance in Paris, Sanchez-Vicario had never before lost in the first round here. She won the title in 1989, 1994 and 1998 and reached the final in 1991, 1995 and 1996. Today's match however, is one the former world No1 would rather forget, after she committed a massive 35 unforced errors to hand her 19-year-old opponent an easy victory and a berth in the second round.
"Every once in a while something like this happens," said the former champ. "It happened to be here. It's a great pity."
Sanchez Vicario denied that her poor form today would force her to think about retiring: "What happened, happened. But it's not a reason for saying I am going to retire. I've not really had many games like this throughout my career, but it can happen. It doesn't mean that I have to stop playing tennis." The Spaniard added that she would take a rest to "think" about what she would now do.
The fleet-footed Marrero's game is well suited to the clay courts of Roland Garros and Sanchez Vicario was quick to predict a big future for the youngster after today's match.
It was here two years ago that Marrero made her Grand Slam debut, ranked No108, winning seven matches to qualify for the main draw and advance to the quarterfinals. Today she simply had to keep the ball in play, converting five of ten break point opportunities and slamming 15 winners past the sluggish veteran.
The consistent Marrero made just 11 unforced errors and gave her opponent no chances to break serve. She will now meet either the Russian qualifier Vera Zvonareva or Slovakian Maja Matevzic, who face off in the first round today.
