After Loss, Kuerten Calls an End to Career

The former top-ranked Brazilian won three French Open titles.
"Here, it is my life, my passion and my love," Kuerten said in French. "It's great to have my family here, my coach. But more important was the love you gave me."
Kuerten, 31, has been bothered by a hip injury since 2001. Since having surgery in 2004, he has played in only 19 tournaments and won five matches. This year's French Open was his first appearance in a Grand Slam tournament since the 2005 U.S. Open -- and he said beforehand it would be his last event at any level.
"It's incredible how fast it all went," said Kuerten, who won 20 titles during a pro career that began in 1995. In 2000, he became the first South American to finish the year at the top of the ATP rankings.
Kuerten plans to play in the doubles tournament in Paris.
Third-seeded Novak Djokovic, No. 6 David Nalbandian, No. 10 Andy Murray and No. 7 James Blake advanced to the second round, but 1998 French Open champion Carlos Moya lost to Eduardo Schwank, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-7 (7-1), 4-6, 6-3.
Blake's 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Rainer Schuettler made him the first American man to win a match at Roland Garros since 2006. At last year's French Open, American men went 0-9 in the first round, with Blake losing to Ivo Karlovic.
"We all feel like, you know, last year was an aberration that should never happen again," Blake said, "and this year we're definitely looking for better results."
Blake is 9-6 on clay this year, but he struggled to finally beat Schuettler, who has lost in the first round at Roland Garros in seven of his nine appearances.
In the women's draw, eight-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams beat Ashley Harkleroad, 6-2, 6-1, and last year's French Open runner-up Ana Ivanovic struggled before beating Sofia Arvidsson, 6-2, 7-5. The first seeded player to lose was No. 15 Nicole Vaidisova. She reached the French Open semifinals in 2006 and the quarterfinals last year, but was upset by Iveta Benesova, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.
Kuerten saved one match point before sending a weak shot into the net. Then he sat back in his chair and pulled a towel over his head.
Shaking, he emerged with his eyes red and finally shook hands with Mathieu.
Kuerten was then led to the center of the court, where he was given a glass trophy showing a slice of a clay court.
Kuerten -- the last top-seeded man to win the title in Paris in 2001 -- entered the tournament as the lowest-ranked man in the field at No. 1,141. He got his spot in the draw as a wild card.