By Bill Scott Aug 27, 2008, 3:15 GMT
New York - Roger Federer began the task of re-establishing order in the ranks, with the second seed making a crushing 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 start on Tuesday night over Argentine Maximo Gonzalez at the US Open.
The Swiss, humbled over the summer by a drop from first to second behind Rafael Nadal on the ATP list, showed flashes of his former dominating style as he hammered out a first-round win over the South American ranked 118.
Federer has stalled at a dozen Grand Slam career titles, two behind the all-time best of Pete Sampras, but laid down a possible turnaround marker in Beijing as he and Stan Wawrinka won Olympic doubles gold.
Federer lost an early break against Gonzalez, as he laid eyes on the journeyman for the first time, but quickly had the match in hand to run out a swift win.
'I'm back and healthy and playing well,' said the satisfied Swiss. 'Wining the first match is great fun and I look for more like that.
'The Olympics gave me a great lift. I'm inspired and motivated to do well here and for the rest of the season.'
Federer's win in New York under the lights was his 39th against just four defeats at Flushing Meadows, where he has claimed the last four trophys.
The 11th seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile advanced earlier as he took out Ivan Navarro of Spain 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) while German Tommy Haas upset 12th seed Richard Gasquet 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.
Women's top seed Ana Ivanovic took a cumbersome detour on the way from Beijing to New York, stopping for successful treatment with her Australian doctor on a string of injuries a week before advancing in her opening match.
The Serb came through a struggle over two hours against Russian Vera Dushevina 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
The win was welcome relief after the 20-year-old French Open champion was unable to play the Olympics due to a right thumb problem, now on the mend.
'After Beijing I thought I might not be able to compete here,' said the reigning French Open winner.
'I really tried to do everything possible for my recovery - I even went to Australia to see my doctor to be able to practise.'
That strategy not only paid off in massive air-mile accumulation, but also produced the desired result.
'The last couple of days I've been totally without the pain, so it was really good,' said Ivanovic, who still does not train for more than one hour per day as a precaution.
Venus and Serena Williams both advanced with ease at home.
Fourth seed Serena beat Kateryna Bondarenko 6-1, 6-4 while five- time Wimbledon winner Venus stopped Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-3.
'I knew she had a lot of power - but sometimes that's when I play my best,' warned the confident American who won the Beijing Olympic doubles with her younger sibling.
'I've had the best summer ever, more than amazing.'
Beijing silver medallist Dinara Safina of Russia, the sixth seed, posted a win over 16-year-old American Kristie Ahn 6-3, 6-4, while Polish ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska beat Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakstan 6-4, 6-2.
Safin is carrying the best form on the WTA with finals at six of her last seven events, including titles in Montreal and Stanford and a French Open finals appearance against Ivanovic.
German Anna-Lena Groenefeld, now out of the Top 100 but once inside the Top 50, upset 11th seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-2.
Marat Safin, elder brother of Dinara and 2000 champion, scored a popular victory, once calling the tournament referee onto court in a pointless dispute on the way past Vince Spadea 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6- 4.
Safin made his breakthrough as he crushed Pete Sampras in the final eight years ago, but has yet to fulfill his huge potential.
The Russian broke six times and overcame nearly 40 unforced errors for his win.
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