Federer equals Connors with win

PARIS - After his record-tying 233rd victory in a Grand Slam match, Roger Federer was asked Monday whether he recalled which player he beat for his first win at a major tournament.

"Well, I should, shouldn't I? Um, let me see," said Federer, who then hesitated and rubbed his eyes before conceding: "OK. I can't remember."

Reminded it was Michael Chang at the 2000 Australian Open, the 16-time major champion said, "Was it? Well, that was a beautiful victory, then."

Federer equaled Jimmy Connors' Open era mark and improved to 233-35 at tennis' top four tournaments by defeating Tobias Kamke of Germany 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of the French Open.

"You step back. You realize you have been playing for quite a long time," Federer said. "When I started, I loved playing against those famous players I used to see on TV. Now I'm playing against younger players, a new generation."

On the women's side, Americans are 10-for-10, giving the country its most representatives in the tournament's second round since 11 made it in 2003. And there are two more U.S. women waiting to play first-round matches today, including 13-time major champion Serena Williams.

Connors won eight Grand Slam titles while going 233-49 from 1970 to 1992, an .826 winning percentage bettered by Federer's .869.

"Jimmy Connors was a huge champion. Still is," Federer said.

Federer improved to 50-12 at Roland Garros, where his 2009 championship completed a career Grand Slam. Now he is the only man with at least 50 Open era match wins each at all four.

And here's one more stat: Federer is playing in his 50th consecutive major tournament, the longest active streak and third-longest in the Open era, which began in 1968, when professionals were allowed into the Grand Slam events.

"Look, I obviously love the big tournaments," he said. "I have been so successful for such a long time, and to already tie that record (at) 30 years old is pretty incredible, so I'm very happy."

His 30th birthday was Aug. 8, and Federer is trying to become the oldest man to win a Grand Slam tournament since Las Vegan Andre Agassi was 32 at the 2003 Australian Open. Federer has gone more than two years without a major title, his longest drought.

On Monday, Federer was not perfect against the 78th-ranked Kamke, who fell to 6-10 at Grand Slams and has never advanced past the third round. Federer was broken once in each set and piled up 47 unforced errors, 16 more than Kamke.

The success of the U.S. women is a change from recent years. In five of the past seven years, including 2011, only four American women managed to make it out of the first round at Roland Garros.

"A couple years ago, everyone was asking me the opposite questions, on why American tennis was so bad," said Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who on Monday eliminated 12th-seeded Sabine Lisicki of Germany, 6-4, 6-3.

Lauren Davis, an 18-year-old qualifier from Boca Raton, Fla., surprised 30th-seeded Mona Barthel of Germany 6-1, 6-1 on Monday, when all six U.S. women won. The others: Vania King beat Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-2; Sloane Stephens defeated Ekaterina Makarova of Russia 6-4, 7-6 (6); Varvara Lepchenko beat Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-4; and Christina McHale edged Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Venus Williams, Melanie Oudin, Irina Falconi and Alexa Glatch won Sunday.