Lleyton Hewitt of Australia reacts after winning a point against Amer Delic of the United States during their match at the U.S. Open yesterday. Former champion Hewitt won 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. - AP

NEW YORK (AP):

FORMER CHAMPION and fourth-seeded Svetlana overcame an early break point to dominate Klara Zakopalova 6-2, 6-3 yesterday and put herself in the second round of the U.S. Open.

The 81st-ranked Czech pushed Kuznetsova to break point in the opening game, but succumbed three points later and lost the opening set in 25 minutes. Kuznetsova, who made 70 per cent of her first serves, and Zakopalova traded three consecutive breaks to leave the Russian ahead 5-3 in the second set, and she served out in her first step of a bid to repeat her 2004 title.

"In the second set, I wasn't playing so good, so I was just trying to get the ball back," Kuznetsova said. "I have to improve. I have to be more careful about my feet."

Other results

Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia claimed the first upset of the day, eliminating No. 23 Tathiana Garbin 6-4, 6-3. Other early results included No. 16 Lleyton Hewitt beating Amer Delic of the United States 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in the men's draw, joined by Argentineans Juan Ignacio Chela and Juan Monaco.

The 20th-seeded Chela over-whelmed Michael McClune of the U.S., 6-2, 6-1, 7-6 (0), and No. 23 Monaco beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Hewitt won all 16 points on his serve in the final set and never faced a break point.

"I just tried to mix my serve, smartly, to not let him get a rhythm," Hewitt said. "I felt I was playing on my terms."

Onthe women's side, Swiss Patty Schnyder and Martina Hingis both advanced in straight sets. No. 11 Schnyder defeated Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-0, and the 16th-seeded Hingis moved past Mathilde Johansson of France by a reverse score of 6-0, 6-3.

Opening ceremony

Monday night's session was highlighted by an opening ceremony that included rhythm and blues singer Aretha Franklin entertaining the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd with a rendition of her signature song Respect.

Then, Venus Williams beat Kira Nagy of Hungary 6-2, 6-1 - highlighted by a Grand Slam-record 129 mph (203 kph) serve - and her sister Serena finished off a full opening day with a forehand smash to down German teenager Angelique Kerber 6-3, 7-5.