Safin could meet Roger Federer in the quarter-finals

Marat Safin reached the second round of the French Open before heavy rain caused a six-hour delay.

Safin needed only one hour 24 minutes to power past Spain's Fernando Vicente 6-1 6-3 6-1 and predicted he could be a dangerous proposition in Paris.

"My form coming into the tournament wasn't even ups and downs, it was just downhill," said the 27-year-old.

"Here is a different story. Even though you might feel you're not playing well, you have enough time to catch up."

The Russian next faces Janko Tipsarevic, who beat fellow Serb Dusan Vemic 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 4-6 6-3.

Italian Potito Starace overcame Ivo Minar 4-6 6-1 6-4 7-6 (7-5) in the only other men's match to be completed on the opening day of the tournament.