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)
