Former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero had to wait for a tropical cloudburst to pass before overcoming American Brendan Evans 6-2, 6-4 in the first round of the Nasdaq-100 Open on Wednesday.

American James Blake eased past Dane Kenneth Carlsen 6-3, 6-2 to set up a meeting with fifth seed Carlos Moya [Images] of Spain while Britain's Greg Rusedski [Images] came from a set down to defeat Italian Andreas Seppi 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Ferrero won the first set comfortably and appeared to be cruising to a straight-sets victory over Evans when predicted thunderstorms arrived at the Crandon Park Tennis Centre.

Lightning initially stopped play with the Spaniard serving at 5-4 in the second set but rain soon poured down and continued long enough to keep the players off court for an hour and 33 minutes.

Once the rain stopped and the court driers had done their work, the players returned for the few minutes it took for Ferrero to seal his second-round place.

"It wasn't easy to play in that situation," said Ferrero, who plays 11th seed Guillermo Canas of Argentina next.

"There was a lot of wind and he served very well," the Spaniard told reporters.

Ferrero is attempting to push himself back up the rankings after his career went into freefall during a dismal 2004, which was blighted by a lingering bout of chickenpox and a succession of niggling injuries.

PHYSICALLY PERFECT

His failure to defend the ranking points he earned during a stellar 2003, during which he won the French Open, reached the U.S. Open final and climbed to number one in the rankings, cost him dear and he now languishes at number 85.

"I had a lot of problems last year but that was last year," said Ferrero. "Physically I'm perfect now but I need time to find the same rhythm as before. I'm not quite there yet."

Rusedski said he was helped by the rain delay which stopped play after the first set and gave him time to regroup against Seppi.

"Some days you can have good weather and some days you can have bad weather, so you've just got to learn how to fight the elements," said Rusedski.

"Today I managed to find a way to get through. That's what tennis is about, winning matches when you're in a little bit of trouble."

Rusedski now plays 2002 Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson of Sweden.

In the women's event, Wimbledon champion and second seed Maria Sharapova [Images] will open her campaign against Eleni Daniilidou after the Greek player beat Tathiana Garbin of Italy [Images] 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in a first-round match.

Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne will begin her comeback by taking on Abigail Spears after the American put out Australia's Samantha Stosur 7-6, 4-6, 6-1.

It will be former world number one Henin-Hardenne's first competitive match since last year's U.S. Open.

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