Kuznetsova starts with quick win

Flushing Meadows, New York, 27 August-9 September

Svetlana Kuznetsova began her bid to regain the US Open title with a routine win over Klara Zakopalova.

The fourth seed, champion in 2004, took 64 minutes to dispatch Zakopalova of the Czech Republic 6-2 6-3.

Martina Hingis opened her campaign with a 6-0 6-3 win over France's Mathilde Johansson, while Nicole Vaidisova beat Alla Kudryavtseva 6-1 6-2.

But ninth seed Daniela Hantuchova went out, beaten 6-4 3-6 6-1 by Julia Vakulenko of the Ukraine.

"Obviously it was not my best performance today," said Hantuchova. "I had my opportunities but I think she played very well, especially in the third set. I had my chances and didn't take them."

Hingis believes she will benefit from the two-week break she took ahead of the US Open.

The Swiss, who made only eight unforced errors in her first-round win, said it helped her "get the hunger and get the spirit back."

The 1997 champion, now world-ranked 18, said she tried not to dwell on past glories.

"I know nobody can take that away from me. You have to keep evolving and keep trying to get better," she said.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Russian sixth seed Anna Chakvetadze took 46 minutes to reach the second round with a 6-1 6-1 triumph over American Ashley Weinhold.

India's Sania Mirza , the 26th seed, recovered from a second-set blip to beat Estonia's Kaia Kanepi 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-1.

"I'm playing better every day and learning and improving," said Mirza. "I feel confident and I'm hitting the ball well. It's my goal to make it to the second week here."

Agnieszka Radwanska , the 30th seed and former junior world number one, posted a convincing 6-2 6-1 win over Japan's Akiko Morigami.

Patty Schnyder eased past Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-3 6-0, while Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia caused a minor shock, eliminating number 23 seed Tathiana Garbin 6-4 6-3.

Source: BBC Sport