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.
USA
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