The Lleyton Hewitt revival gathered pace on Tuesday as he got his US Open campaign off to a confident start with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over American Amer Delic.

 

 

Number 16 seed Lleyton Hewitt from Australia reacts after winning a point against Amer Delic of the US during the 1st round of the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, New York. Hewitt won 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. (Photo: AFP)

 

The Australian, who has taken on compatriot Tony Roche as coach in his effort to battle his way back to the top, has been injury-free for the first time in a year and his hard work is starting to show in improved results.

 

He notably took world No.1 Roger Federer all the way to a third-set tie-break in the semi-finals at the Cincinnati Masters earlier this month and has been cast as a good outsider in New York.

 

Against former US collegiate champion Delic, Hewitt took command from the off breaking in the first game to put the big American on the back foot.

 

A second break of serve in the seventh game allowed the 26-year-old former world No. 1 to lift the opening set 6-2.

 

Delic hung on until 4-4 in the second, but the Australian was coasting on his own serve and threatening each time on his opponent's.

 

Two sizzling forehand returns set up a third break of serve for Hewitt in the ninth game and he followed up with a comfortable service game of his own to move two sets ahead.

 

The writing was on the wall for the American and his last faint embers of hope were extinguished in the fifth game of the third set when Hewitt broke serve for the fourth time.

 

There was an impressive start also for another former winner in the women's tournament when Russia's 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova trounced Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-3.

 

The 22-year-old fourth seed has been one of the most consistent players on the WTA Tour this year, but has had to settle for four runner-up finishes at Doha, Indian Wells, Berlin and Rome.

 

She had little trouble against an opponent who had failed to get past the first round in four previous attempts at Flushing Meadows wrapping up the first set 6-2 in just 25 minutes.

 

The second set was more keenly contested but Kuznetsova stepped up the pace with three games in a row including two breaks of serve from 3-3 to power into the second round.

 

"After Wimbledon I took a break and that has helped me a lot - it was important to get a break after that. I don't feel tired and I feel good and confident," she said.

 

Among the day's early winners were in-form Virginie Razzano, who defeated French compatriot Emilie Loit 6-1, 6-2, and Indian hope Sania Mirza, who saved her best for last in defeating Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1.

 

Also in first round action on the second day of the tournament were women's defending champion Maria Sharapova of Russia and top American hope Andy Roddick.

 

They were playing in the two prime-time night session games with Sharapova taking on Italy's Roberta Vinci and Roddick, a four-sets loser in last year's final to Federer, going up against compatriot Justin Gimelstob.

 

Earlier in the day, up-and-coming Serb Novak Djokovic, seeded third, was taking on Robin Haase of the Netherlands, who only made it into the draw through an injury to Mario Ancic of Croatia.

 

Top seeds Roger Federer and Justine Henin both won their first round games on Monday as did the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena.

 

(CRI via AFP August 29, 2007)