Summer pounded Montreal with a vengeance today. Temperatures pushing 30 degrees allied with high humidity and bright sun to make things rather uncomfortable for all.

The Frenchmen in today?s qualifying didn?t appear to mind the heat. All three of France?s standard-bearers who were on the menu won, making France the only nation to send more than one representative into the main draw. Our entrée looks at one of them, little-known but impressive Grégory Carraz, and then we sample the tasty Draper-Arazi marathon. And since we are in Canada, how about a little hockey as a digestif?

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Grégory Carraz (FRA) d. (16)Harel Levy (ISR), 7-5, 6-2 (pictured at right: Carraz is on the right)

The career of Israel?s Harel Levy appeared to have taken off in 2000, when as a qualifier he reached the final of Candian Masters Series in Toronto. But soon after the breakthrough, he suffered the same hip injury (torn cartilage) that has haunted several other players, including Gustavo Kuerten, Magnus Norman, and the most recent victim, Nicolas Escudé. Since his 2001 surgery, Levy has never managed to return to his former level.

Today the serve-volley game of late-blooming Frenchman Grégory Carraz proved to good for the struggling Israeli. Carraz, a 27-year-old out of Boulogne, is a slender 1.92m (6?2?) tall. He is quite businesslike in his on-court demeanour, and complements his attacking game with a fine one-handed backhand. Carraz also seems to have Levy?s number, since he defeated the Israeli in Washington (first round) earlier this week, 7-6, 6-4. The Frenchman is currently at his best career ranking, an even 100.

Levy stayed with Carraz early, thanks mainly to some fine returning. Levy earned a set point on Carraz?s serve at 5-4 -- the Israeli got in a good low return, but Carraz got down to it smartly and finessed a drop backhand volley that Levy could not run down. This excellent save was the turning point of the match. Carraz immediately broke Levy at 5-5 thanks to more strong attacking play. The Frenchman appeared a bit nervous serving for the set. Carraz double-faulted at 15-30 to hand Levy two break points. He saved them both with unreturnable serves before finally winning his third set point with another service winner.

Carraz clicked his serve-volley game into high gear in set two, improving his first serve percentage to 67% (compared to 39% in the opening set). Levy, whose confidence seemed a bit fragile today at the best of times (he constantly looked at his coach for moral reinforcement) started to go off the rails. By the time the second set reached 4-1, the Israeli?s game was falling apart. Visibly frustrated, he dropped his racquet to the court several times, and slammed balls angrily against the advertising pane ls along the side fence. Make the final: 7-5, 6-2 for Carraz, who draws Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the opening round of the main draw.

(9)Scott Draper (AUS) def. (3)Hicham Arazi, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

For 2 hours and 18 minutes these two talented, undersized southpaws entertained the fans who were scattered sparsely in the stadium with their thoughtful and varied tennis. Both are on the comeback trail: Arazi from a motivational crisis last year, and Draper from the much more serious matter of remaking his life and his career in the wake of the tragic death of his wife four years ago.

Draper?s superior fitness proved to be the deciding factor. As the match reached the two hour mark, Arazi began to labour in the noonday heat. No longer able to control his shots, he was broken at 3-4 of the third set. On break point, as his forehand landed long, Arazi fell to his back with a scream as if he had been shot. A trainer, who must have been on standby, rushed quickly on court to attend to the cramping Moroccan. We were treated to an unusual episode when a chair was brought out to the basel ine where Arazi was being treated, and the requisite thigh massages were done on court during an injury time out. During this time Draper, perhaps concerned about his own legs stiffening, stayed on his feet during the break and prowled his baseline, swinging his racquet to keep the precious left arm loose.

Arazi was able to come out for the final game, as Draper served for the match. The Australian looked quite tentative and had difficulty putting his limping opponent away. Arazi even earned a break point by hitting a risky swinging volley from mid-court at 30-30. But Arazi was unable to capitalize, slapping a forehand out after a long rally. Draper closed out the match with two service winners, and the spectators gave both men a rousing ovation.

For his efforts Draper earns a spot in the main draw, where he will lock horns with Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round. Given the energy-sapping nature of today?s match, Draper would surely have preferred to play on Tuesday, but unluckily for the Aussie the match is on tomorrow?s programme.

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And the others?

• (ALT)Wayne Black (ZIM) (def. (1)Nicolas Massu (CHI), 6-2, 6-4) -- will play Wayne Ferreira).
  The diminutive Black was a last-minute addition to the qualifying draw following the withdrawal of Paul Goldstein, and Wayne made the most of his good fortune by beating Noam Okun yesterday and top seed Massú today. Massú, perhaps weary after a busy round of post-Wimbledon clay court tournaments that included the Dutch Open title and a final in Austria, struggled to beat local teenager Philip Gubenco yesterday and was no match for Black today.
• Bob Bryan (USA) (def. (2)Jonas Bjorkman (SWE), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) -- will play 5th seed Lleyton Hewitt).
  After edging Bob Bryan 7-6 (7), 6-4 earlier this week in Washington, Andy Roddick opined that, should the doubles star ever decide to devote himself to singles, Bryan would ?walk up the rankings.? On today?s evidence it?s hard to disagree. With a rocket lefty serve (73% first serve percentage with 11 aces today), incisive returns, good court movement and a more than adequate baseline game that features an explosive down-the-line backhand, Bryan was very impressive. Bjorkman, who is playing decently these days (Nottingham final and Wimbledon quarterfinal) did not play badly, although he is surely kicking himself for losing serve at love with a 5-3 lead in the second set. Also, the Swedish veteran?s serves were sitting up perfectly to be mashed by Bryan?s fine returns. While Bjorkman?s serving is admittedly not what you might call lethal, this was the best evidence we have seen so far that the courts here, which have been quite slick in recent years, have been slowed down.
• (4)Karol Beck (SVK) (def. (11)Thomas Enqvist (SWE), 6-3, 6-2) -- will play fellow qualifier Michael Llodra).
  Fast-rising 21-year-old Beck is a very good baseliner out of Zvolen, Slovak Republic. While not a giant at 1.80m (5?11?), he pounds a strong serve that can reach speeds upwards of 205 km/h. While Beck looked solid, in truth he did not have to extend himself against the once-proud Enqvist, who was frankly horrible today. Slowed by repeated injuries, only 104th in this year?s Champions Race ranking, and visibly low on confidence, the Swede must be asking himself serious questions about his future in the s port.
• (8)Cyril Saulnier (FRA) (def. (13)Jiri Vanek (CZE), 6-1, 6-2 -- will play 2nd seed Juan Carlos Ferrero).
• Ramon Delgado (PAR) (def. (14)Peter Luczak (AUS), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) -- will play Ivan Ljubicic).
• Michael Llodra (FRA) (def. (WC)Matt Klinger (CAN), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 -- will play fellow qualifier Karol Beck).

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Ball hockey bonus: National Hockey League def. ATP, 4-1 (I think)

The best-attended event of the afternoon was a ball hockey exhibition on Court One, pitting a team of ATP players against a squad of National Hockey League pros. The NHL squad scored a one-sided win, avenging a loss at the hands of the tennis players here two years ago. We can only speculate that the decline of Swedish tennis is responsible for the turnaround, since Swedes were much in evidence on the team two years ago. The only Swedish player today was actually a coach, Peter Lundgren. There are no Swedes in the main draw of this year?s tournament, and the likes of Jonas Bjorman and Thomas Enqvist were unavailable because of their unsuccessful attempts to qualify this afternoon.

On the ATP team, pictured at right, you may recognize Jiri Novak (sweltering in his bulky goalkeeper?s gear), Jiri Vanek, Karol Beck, Donald Johnson, Radek Stepanek, Frank Dancevic, forward deluxe Roger Federer, and Roger?s burly coach Peter Lundgren (who played the role of "hulking defenceman"). The NHL stars included Boston Bruin standout Martin Lapointe and Stanley Cup-winning goalie Martin Brodeur.

The standout for the tennis team was Novak, who kept the game close with some scintillating saves, even drawing chants of ?Novak! Novak!? after a breakaway stop on Brodeur (who played forward today for the NHL). The most impressive stick-handler on the ATP side was Novak?s fellow Czech Vanek, whose thrusts down the left wing were about the only source of offence the tennis players could muster. Showmanship awards go to the enthusiastic Stepanek, who seemed to be having a blast, and doubles specialist Jo hnson, who went so far as to initiate a mock brawl with Lapointe.

And Federer? Aside from a turn-around slapshot that almost decapitated a fan in the fourth row, he did not make much of an impact. ?No, I don?t play hockey because I don?t know how to skate,? admitted the Wimbledon champion in an on-court interview. ?But it?s fun to participate and to meet these stars from another sport.?

The players will employ more familiar implements tomorrow, when the tournament starts in earnest.