Tim Henman and Greg Rusedeski have both crashed out of the French Open at Roland Garros on the first day.

Henman was forced to retire in agony with an injured back, while Rusedeski, the British number one, suffered a humiliating defeat by Belgian Johan Van Herck.

Rusedeski could not master the clay court

Rusedski, who had an outside chance of becoming the world number one if he did well in this tournament, become the first seed to crash out of the tournament in a 6-4 6-4 6-4 defeat.

Henman called for the trainer while struggling at 5-2 down in the first set against Armenian Sargis Sargsian.

He lay on a towel on the red clay of Roland Garros for a full five minutes as the physio gave him treatment.

But after returning to serve just one more point he raised his hands to gesture that he could no longer carry on.

It was a bitter disappointment for Henman who has never won a match at Roland Garros, but has played the full clay season in a bid to master the surface.

He later revealed that the injury occurred on Sunday as he was practising with Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

He had treatment overnight and although he felt stiff after practice on Monday morning he decided to go ahead.

"I feel pretty sick about it," he said. "But there was a lot of pain, the sort that knocks the breath out of you. My back was very tight and just got worse and worse."

The French Open is the only Grand Slam event Sampras has not won

Elsewhere the top seeds Martina Hingis and Pete Sampras both won straight-set victories.

Hingis took 49 minutes to beat Maria Sanchez Lorenzo of Spain, 6-2, 6-1.

"It's good to be back here," Hingis said after the match. "As everybody knows, I lost in the finals last year. I want to do better this year."

Sampras has also never won the French open. He faced fellow American Todd Martin in a potentially difficult match, but had little trouble, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

"I feel pretty good. I feel fresh mentally," Sampras said. "To come through in straight sets is a really nice feeling."

"This is what it's all about for me - the majors, especially this one."

Anna Kournikova is through to the second round

Meanwhile, four of Hingis' potential rivals, teenagers Venus Williams and Anna Kournikova, defending champion Iva Majoli, and third seed Jana Novotna, all won easily.

In the men's tournament third-seed Marcelo Rios of Chile beat Brett Steven of New Zealand 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

But Rusedski was not the only seed to crash out. Number seven Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden, lost to Thomas Muster 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Karol Kucera of Slovakia, the no. nine seed, lost to Todd Woodbridge of Australia, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.

Also through to the second round are Yevgeny Kafelnikov, the no. six seed, Carlos Moya of Spain, seeded 12; American Jim Courier; big-serving Australian Mark Philippoussis; and Spaniards Albert Costa and Felix Mantilla, seeded 13 and 15 respectively.

In the women's tournament, Nathalie Tauziat, the No. 12 seed who knocked out Venus Williams last year, and 16th-seeded American Lisa Raymond both lost.
 

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