NEW YORK, Sept 2: Roger Federer teased, Lleyton Hewitt shone and Serena Williams dazzled at the U.S. Open on Wednesday, although the bronze medallists at the Athens Olympics were both upset.
Playing under lights, world number one and top seed Federer was given a scare by Cypriot qualifier Marcos Baghdatis, last year's leading junior, before battling through to the third round 6-2 6-7 6-3 6-1.
The 19-year-old Baghdatis, who became the first Cypriot to win a Grand Sslam singles match when he beat Olivier Mutis in the first round, showed huge ability as he pushed the Swiss harder than expected.
The humidity of the opening two days was replaced by sunny skies and the in-form Hewitt romped to a 6-1 7-5 6-4 first round victory over Wayne Ferreira, who was playing in a record 56th consecutive, and last, grand slam event.
If Hewitt was the most impressive player on show, Serena Williams again grabbed the attention with another outfit. Dressed in a black, jewel-encrusted two-piece, Serena's powers failed her briefly when she let slip a 4-2 lead in the first set as world number 86 Linda Lee-Waters levelled at 4-4.
The third seed and two-time champion stepped up her game to win 6-4 6-3 and reach the third round. Second seed Amelie Mauresmo was at her tentative worst in the first set of her match with Julia Virilenko of Ukraine but rebounded to win 3-6 6-2 6-2 and reach the third round.
Sixth seed Elena Dementieva stuttered into the third round despite serving eight double faults in her 6-3 6-2 win over French qualifier Severine Beltrame, but Australian Alicia Molik became the highest-ranked woman to exit.
The 17th seed, who picked up the bronze in Athens, was beaten 6-4 6-3 by former world number five Daniela Hantuchova, who now plays Swiss 15th seed Patty Schnyder. Bulgarian 22nd seed Magdalena Maleeva was another early casualty, beaten 6-3 6-2 by 19-year-old American wildcard Angela Haynes.
