New York: India's Mahesh Bhupathi crashed out of US Open on Wednesday. Bhupathi, pairing with Xavier Malisse of Belgium, made an early exit in the first round, going down to the Russian-Czech pair of Mikhail Youzhny and Leos Friedl in straight sets 4-6, 4-6.
In other matches on Wednesday, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt won their first-round matches in men's singles after Tuesday's near-washout at Flushing Meadows. In women's singles, top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Martina Hingis were the prominent winners on Day Three.
Wang of Chinese Taipei got the draw nobody wanted in the first round....world number one Roger Federer. The defending champion was simply too strong for his opponent ranked 102 in the world, winning 6-4 6-1 6-0 in an hour and 40 minutes.
Number Two seed Rafael Nadal made short work of 1998 runner-up Mark Philippoussis, beating the big-serving Australian 6-4 6-4 6-4. Lleyton Hewitt was level with Albert Montanes at five games all in the opening set when play had been suspended on Louis Armstrong Court on Tuesday, but the 2001 champion comfortably beat him when they returned, winning 7-5 6-4 6-3. Marat Safin survived a third-set comeback by Czech player Robin Vik to go through to the second round 6-1 6-1 3-6 6-3.
Fourth seed David Nalbandian was given a big scare when he went two sets down to Germany's Michael Berrer. But Nalbandian fought back as Berrer struggled with cramps to go through 4-6 6-7 6-3 7-5 6-2. He will now meet Marat Safin. Britain's Andy Murray beat his American Opponent Robert Kendrick 6-2 1-6 6-3 6-3. American Andy Roddick beat his opponent Kristian Pless 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.
In the women's section, Amelie Mauresmo was 2-5 down in the second set against Germany's Kristina Barrois when rain ended play on Arthur Ashe Court on Tuesday, but on Wednesday she reeled off five games in quick succession to beat Barrois 6-1 7-5.
Maria Sharapova defeated her Dutch opponent Michella Krajiceck in straight sets 6-3, 6-0. Serena Williams also progressed to the next round, beating Spain's Lourdes Lino in straight sets 6-1, 6-2. Eighth seeded Martina Hingis won her match against Shuai Peng 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.
ndy Roddick's 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-3 win over Kristian Pless of Denmark was the day's only second-round match.
Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, and Roddick have been the subject of gossip. He turned 24 and she was asked whether she'd bought him a present.
"Is it his birthday?" Sharapova responded. "I had no idea."
With 80 matches across the grounds, the upsets were quite limited, with the biggest probably 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina's 6-4, 6-2 loss to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
The top-seeded Federer rebounded from a startling loss two weeks ago to overwhelm Wang Yeu-tzuoo of Taiwan 6-4, 6-1, 6-0. Aiming at his third straight Open title, Federer had won 55 straight matches on North American hard courts before Andy Murray beat him at the Cincinnati Masters.
"I thought I was always in control, obviously," Federer said after his victory. "I always said I prefer to be the favourite rather than the underdog. That's worked out for me since I became No 1."
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