Henin labours while big guns cruise

While spectators in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open wondered when the day's competitive action would commence, having seen Lindsay Davenport and Serena Williams swat second-round opponents, the audience in nearby Louis Armstrong Stadium were entertained by a lively women's contest.

While spectators in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the United States Open wondered when the day's competitive action would commence, having seen Lindsay Davenport and Serena Williams swat second-round opponents in a total of 86 minutes, the audience in nearby Louis Armstrong Stadium were entertained by a lively women's contest.

Justine Henin, the slight, 19-year-old Belgian who captivated the crowds when advancing to the Wimbledon final and the French Open semi-finals, was struggling to overcome the challenge of Patty Schnyder, of Switzerland, herself a promising contender until beset by personal problems three years ago.

Schnyder, currently ranked No 40 in the world, displayed much of her former spirit in edging a first-set tie-break, 9-7. Henin, the sixth seed, then regained her form and confidence to win the next two sets and take the match, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, after two hours.

By then, Davenport and Serena Williams had showered and given their interviews, Davenport having beaten Emilie Loit, of France, 6-0, 6-2, and Williams the Czech Denisa Chladkova, 6-1, 6-1. The ease of these victories raised a question about the wisdom of seeding 32 women for the Grand Slams.

"I wasn't for it when they suggested it," said Davenport, the champion here in 1998 and at Wimbledon in 1999. "I thought having 16 seeds was great. I thought it was very exciting having those match-ups in the first few rounds to see if the top players could get through them. In Australia, I played [Jelena] Dokic, who was 17 or 18. That's just the way it goes.

"I don't think you're going to see a [Barbara] Schett beating Venus [Williams] anymore. I think Schett was ranked 18 at the French, just outside a seeding. But the tournaments, Grand Slams, felt like they wanted the 32 seeds. I don't think it's the worst rule change that's ever been made, but I liked it they way it was."

Goran Ivanisevic, the Wimbledon champion, was given a hearty reception when he arrived in the Louis Armstrong Stadium after the Henin-Schnyder match. The Croation made a determined start, hitting 25 aces in defeating Hugo Armando, an American wild card, ranked 115 in the tournament entry system, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, after 98 minutes. No big deal ­ except that Ivanisevic had lost in the first round four times in 12 previous visits, including last year.

Andy Roddick, who celebrates his 19th birthday today, is only six matches away from becoming the youngest ever United States men's singles champion. His second-round opponent, Jack Brasington, turns 25 on Sunday week, when, in all probability, he will be watching the final on television with his girlfriend in Virginia.

Last year, Brasington, who has a degree in Corporate Communications, was a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Texas, having been the third-ranked player on his college team. This year he did well enough in Challenger-level ATP tournaments to merit a place the qualifying event for US Open. He currently stands at No 223 in the tournament entry system.

Roddick remembers tagging along with the Brasingtons, Jack and his brother John, when they played the junior circuit in Florida. "Jack would say, 'let's go hit some'. He would just toy around with me." Brasington decided to continue with his education, leaving Roddick to burn up the courts. "Everybody has their own road," Brasington said.

In the opening round of qualifying, Brasington saved four match points on the way to defeating Gouichi Motomura, of Japan, 16-14 in a third-set tie-break. In the second round, Brasington beat Britain's Jamie Delgado in straight sets. The final round saw Brasington overcome Ronald Agenor, of Haiti, aged 36, the oldest player on the Tour, 6-3, 7-6.

Italy's Gianluca Pozzi, also 36 and the second oldest player on the Tour, provided the opposition for Brasington in his first match in the main draw of a Tour event anywhere, let alone one of the world's four major championships. On Court 13, Brasington experienced another first, having to play through five sets. After losing a two-sets lead, Brasington prevailed, converting his sixth match point to secure a tie-break, 8-6. "Somebody likes me out there," he said.

Women's second round results

(1) M HINGIS (Swi) beat L Krasnoroutskaya (Rus) 6–0 6–2
(3) L DAVENPORT (US) beat E Loit (Fra) 6–0 6–2
(6) J HENIN (Bel) beaet P Schnyder (Swi) 6–7(7) 6–1 6–4
(10) S WILLIAMS (US) beat Denisa Chladkova (Cze) 6–1 6–1
(12) M SHAUGHNESSY (US) beat A Carlsson (Swe) 7–6(4) 6–3
(14) J DOKIC (Yug) beat L Osterloh (US) 6–3 6–3
(20) A SANCHEZ–VICARIO (Spa) beat A Sugiyama (Jpn) 6–3 6–2
(21) E LIKHOVTSEVA (Rus) beat N Petrova (Rus) 6–4 2–6 6–4
(27) A MONTOLIO (Spa) beat M Oremans (Neth) 6–2 6–1
D Bedanova (Cze) beat S Talaja (Cro) 6–1 6–3
E Daniilidou (Gre) beat R McQuillan (Aus) 6–1 7–5
B Schwartz (Aut) beat V Razzano (Fra) 6–1 7–6(4)
M Sucha (Slovak) beat Eva Bes (Spa) 6–2 6–3
M Vavirinec (Swit) beat T Poutchek (Bela) 7–5 4–6 6–2

Men's first round results

(1) G KUERTEN (Bra) beat D Vacek (Cze) 6–4 6–4 3–6 7–5
(12) A CLEMENT (Fra) beat G Blanco (Spa) 6–2 4–6 6–3 6–4
(15) G IVANISEVIC (Cro) beat H Armando (US) 6–4 6–4 6–3
(16) T HAAS (Ger) beat J Van Lottum (Neth) 6–2 6–2 7–6(5)
(17) C MOYA (Spa) beat M Fish (US) 6–3 7–6(3) 6–3
(23) D HRBATY (Slovak) beat A Calatrava 6–2 2–6 6–2 6–3
G Canas (Arg) beat W Arthurs (Aus) 6–1 6–3 6–7(7) 6–2
A Costa (Spa) beat L Harper–Griffith (US) 6–3 6–3 6–3
J Gimelstob (US) beat M Tabara (Cze) 6–4 6–3 4–6 4–6 6–2
F Mantilla (Spa) beat J Acasuso (Arg) 6–3 6–3 6–4
M Mirnyi (Bela) beat G Gaudio (Arg) 7–6(6) 6–3 7–6(4)
K Pless (Den) beat A Martin (Spa) 3–6 6–3 6–2 7–5
F Vicente (Spa) beat A Vinciguerra (Swe) 7–6(6) 6–3 7–6(6)

Interesting? Click here to explore further