Pacesetters Federer, Nadal charge through in New York

By Bill Scott Aug 31, 2006, 3:53 GMT

Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to Mark Philippoussis of Australia during their first round match on the third day of the 2006 US Open Tennis Tournament in Flushing Meadows, New York Wednesday 30 August 2006. EPA/JASON SZENES

New York - Tennis titans Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal laid down their markers with runaway first round victories, brightening a dull, overcast day at the US Open Wednesday.

One day after a total washout in which no matches were completed, the top pair rolled through their openers with Federer crushing Yeu- Tzuoo Wang of Taiwan 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 and Nadal overcoming 19 aces from former Open finalist Mark Philippoussis in a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 schooling.

'I thought I was always in control,' said Federer, who has been in New York for nearly a fortnight after a surprise second-round loss in Cincinnati to Andy Murray, only his fifth defeat of the season.

'I thought I played pretty well with not too many mistakes. I played aggressive, and it worked out. It was a good match all in all, definitely,' he said.

Nadal looked equally impressive, after showing sub-par form in the run-up events.

'I was playing like this in Wimbledon,' said the world number 2, who lost that All England club final to Federer. 'I need to get a little bit confidence and play a little bit more aggressive.'

Nadal is aiming to lift his level at an event where he has never been past the third round. The win took just over two hours with 34 winners and just 10 unforced errors for Nadal.

The match was only the second for 113th-ranked Philippoussis since winning a grass title last month in Newport, after a first-round defeat at Indianapolis.

Four more seeds followed the winning example.

Argentine number 4 seed David Nalbandian came from two sets down for the fourth time in his career to post a win over German Michael Berrer 4-6, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 after more than three and a half gruelling hours.

Chilean tenth seed Fernando Gonzalez put out Czech Jiri Vanek 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 while 12 seeded Czech Tomas Berdych beat Serb Boris Pashanski 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.

US Open 2001 winner Lleyton Hewitt, seeded 15th, rescued a match bogged down in rain 24 hours earlier as he came out refreshed to overcome Spaniard Albert Montanes 7-5, 6-4, 6-3.

The Australian had been resting before the event with a tendon injury to his knee.

'There's times when I feel it, it's definitely not a hundred percent yet,' Hewitt said. 'It was important just to get through today's match and give myself the opportunity. Hopefully no more damage was done. We'll see how it pulls up again tomorrow.'

Marat Safin, the 2000 champion who has struggled all season to comeback from a knee injury, was pleased to finally get an easy win with a 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 defeat of Robin Vik.

'It's just the first round but it feels much better when you win, that's for sure,' Safin said.

On the women's side, Amelie Mauresmo returned from an overnight weather interruption and immediately broke German qualifier Kristina Barrois, to recover on the way into the second round 6-1, 7-5.

The French world number 1 already owns Grand Slam titles from the Australian Open and Wimbledon this season.

Mauresmo had won the first set played Tuesday with ease but was trailing the number 131 as the pair had to end their contest due to rain.

The top seed got straight to work Wednesday with a break to power through, after playing just two matches on hardcourt last week since her Wimbledon final victory over Justine Henin-Hardenne.

'I was only a break down and I had to try and break the minute we came back,' said Mauresmo, 27-7 overall in her career at the tournament. 'I need to play some more matches, hopefully more here this week.'

Mauresmo suffered over the summer with injuries from a shoulder and adductor muscle.

'It's tough to stay healthy, I've struggled all summer,' she said.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus shocked 11th-seeded Anastasia Myskina as she dealt the Russian out in the first round 6-4, 6-2.

There were wins for eighth seed Martina Hingis, number 12 Dinara Safina, 13th seeded Mary Pierce and number 16 Serb Ana Ivanovic.