Hewitt, Serena advance to 3rd round in US Open
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-09-02 10:11

Brimming with confidence, former champion Lleyton Hewitt looked every bit the tour's hottest playeron Wednesday as kicked off his US Open campaign with a 6-1 7-5 6-4 win over Wayne Ferreira, ending the South African's grand slam career in the process.

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia watches the ball during play against Wayne Ferreira of South Africa in their match at the 2004 US Open in New York, September 1, 2004. Hewitt defeated Ferreira 6-1 7-5 6-4. [Reuters]

While his compatriot Mark Philippoussis was forced out through injury and another Australian, Alicia Molik, became the highest women's seed to fall, Hewitt was hugely impressive as he took his winning streak to 11 matches.

With the humidity of the opening two days replaced by sunny skies, Hewitt, tipped by top seed Roger Federer as one of the maindangers for the title, romped past Ferreira, who was playing in a record 56th consecutive, and last, grand slam event.

Serena Williams of the United States follows through on a return to compatriot Lindsay Lee-Waters during their match at the 2004 US Open in New York, September 1, 2004. Williams defeated Lee-Waters 6-4 6-3. [Reuters]

Serena Williams again grabbed the attention with another raunchy outfit. Dressed in a black, jewel-encrusted two-piece, Serena's powers failed her briefly when she let slip a 4-2 lead inthe first set as Linda Lee-Waters, the world number 86, levelled at 4-4. The third seed and two-time champion stepped up her game,though, and won 6-4 6-3 to reach round three.

Sixth seed Elena Dementieva stuttered into the third round despite serving eight double faults in her 6-3 6-2 win over Frenchqualifier Severine Beltrame 6-3 6-2, but Molik became the highest-ranked woman to exit.

The 17th seed was brushed aside 6-4 6-3 by former world number five Daniela Hantuchova, who will now meet Austrian Patty Schnyder,the 15th seed.

Philippoussis, who has been beset by injuries since losing to compatriot Patrick Rafter in the 1998 final, was leading Russian Nikolay Davydenko by two sets to one when he twice needed lengthy treatment on his left hip. After losing the fourth set on a tiebreak, he conceded when trailing 4-1 in the decider.

Eighth seed David Nalbandian eased past Dutchman Dennis van Scheppingen, while Sebastien Grosjean and Vince Spadea were other seeds to advance. But three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten, the 20th seed, was beaten by Kristian Pless of Denmark infour sets and Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, the 14th seed, and JonasBjorkman, the number 32 seed, also lost.

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