Elena Dementieva of Russia returns a shot to Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan (out of picture) at the US Open tennis tournament in New York yesterday. - AP

NEW YORK (AP):

Olympic champions Rafael Nadal and Elena Dementieva showed their mettle at the United States Open, overcoming early challenges to win yesterday in the start of what's expected to be a wide-open tournament.

Former champs Lindsay Davenport and Svetlana Kuznetsova also opened with straight sets victories.

Playing for the first time as the world No. 1, Nadal swatted his very first shot wide against No. 136 Bjorn Phau. The Wimbledon and French Open champ was two points from dropping the first set when he surged and despite needing to bandage a nasty blister, won 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4).

Dementieva looked like gold while taking the final four games to defeat Akgul Amanmuradova 6-4, 7-5. The fifth-seeded Russian was glad to win quickly and give her mind and body a break.

"It's very hard not to think about the Olympic Games," Dementieva said. "Very difficult to refocus. I mean, all my thinking is there in Beijing."

Roger Federer, bidding for his fifth straight US Open title, is scheduled to begin today, as were No 1 Ana Ivanovic and the Williams sisters - Venus and Serena.

Women's draw tricky

The final Grand Slam event of the season is expected to be a scramble on both sides. The women's draw is even more tricky, now that 2007 champion Justine Henin has retired and 2006 winner Maria Sharapova is out with an injured shoulder.

Six different women have won the US Open in the last seven years and Dementieva is seeking her first major championship. To her, the Olympic singles title counts.

"The biggest goal for the year was Beijing," she said. "In Russia, if you stop anyone in the street and ask what is a Grand Slam, I don't think many people can tell you. But everyone knows the Olympic Games. There is nothing bigger."

Li Na, who beat Venus Williams in Beijing, beat 24th-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel 2-6, 6-0, 6-1. The No 23-seeded Davenport defeated Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada, 6-4, 6-2 and No 3 Kuznetsova beat Zhang Shuai of China 6-4, 6-2. No 12 Marion Bartoli of France, No 14 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and No 15 Patty Schnyer of Switzerland also won.

On the men's side, fourth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain beat Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina 7-6 (1), 6-2, 6-2 and No 32 Gael Monfils downed Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-4, 6-4, 6-1. No. 29-seeded Juan Monaco of Argentina lost to Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-2, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2. Also winning were No 7 David Nalbandian of Argentina, No 10 Stanislas Wawrinka and No 16 Gilles Simon of France.