Tennis US Open: American Andy Roddick made a confident start to his challenge for a second US Open title as he crushed Frenchman Florent Serra 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the second round at Flushing Meadows yesterday.
The ninth seed, who won the Masters Series title in Cincinnati earlier this month, hit 10 aces, one serve at 148mph and made only 10 unforced errors as he romped to an impressive victory.
"I felt great," the 2003 champion said. "I only hit for a couple of minutes this morning because of the rain but I am glad my form carried over from Cincinnati. I am playing comfortably right now, and I feel good."
Roddick was beaten in the first round by Gilles Muller of Luxembourg last year but after a cagey opening, a repeat shock never looked likely against the world number 44.
Two breaks saw Roddick through the first set and from then on he was in complete control as he advanced to a clash with Spaniard Alberto Martin or Kristian Pless of Denmark.
In the women's singles second seed Justine Henin-Hardenne breezed through to the second round yesterday with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Italian Maria Elena Camerin.
After a rain delay of more than 90 minutes, the Belgian, who won the title in 2003, broke in the first game and was never troubled. "It was a difficult match because I didn't hit a single ball on the US Open courts until the warm-up because of the rain over the past two days," Henin-Hardenne said afterwards.
"I was a bit nervous about that because you want time to get used to the conditions but I feel good. It's the first year since 2003 that I have played the four grand-slam events."
Henin-Hardenne began the year by reaching the Australian Open final, where she had to retire against Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo because of stomach pain brought on by anti-inflammatories she was taking for a shoulder injury.
But she won the French Open for the third time in June and then reached her third grand-slam final of the year at Wimbledon, losing out to Mauresmo again.
"What I did until now (this year) is amazing," she said. "It's maybe the best season of my career, with 2003, I would say. I've been very consistent from the beginning of the season."
