NEW YORK, 2 September 2003 — Jennifer Capriati took advantage of a brief break in the weather to grab a 4-0 lead over Elena Dementiva before rain returned to stop the action at the $17.07-million US Open yesterday.
A dismal day looked grim once again after the sixth seed’s 13 minutes on court against the Russian No. 11. Officials were beginning to worry about the program which began the concluding week with forecasts bad for the next few days.
Capriati led 40-30 in the fifth game as umbrellas again went up for what proved to be more steady rain. A few hardy fans sat huddled, Wimbledon-style, under umbrellas hoping for the best.
Men and women were set to play fourth-round contests, with four matches in each event. Heading the women’s program was second-seeded French Open winner Justine Henin-Hardenne facing teenaged Russian Dinara Safina.
Another Russian, seventh seed Anastasia Myskina, was taking on France’s two-time grand slam winner Mary Pierce.
On the men’s side Andre Agassi was set to aim for his 200th Grand Slam win, a mark which would place him fourth in the all-time list behind Jimmy Connors (233), Ivan Lendl (222) and Pete Sampras, a reachable 203 if he wins the Open Sunday.
Agassi, who Sunday finished a rain-interrupted match from Saturday, was to play for the third day in succession, taking on young American Taylor Dent. Also due on court — weather permitting — Juan Carlos Ferrero versus American veteran Todd Martin and Thai 11th seed Paradorn Srichaphan playing 2001 winner Lleyton Hewitt.
A pumped-up Agassi thumped former world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-3, 7-6, 6-4 on Sunday, racking up his 199th victory in a grand slam match to reach the fourth round of the US Open.
“I think a lot of things went well...I managed to sneak out that second set tiebreak and then I was off to the races,” Agassi told reporters after notching his sixth successive win over the Russian.
The top seed was swiftly followed into the winners’ circle by a restrained Andy Roddick, who this time let his tennis do all the talking in a brutal 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 demolition of Brazilian Flavio Saretta.
But Americans did not have it all their own way at their grand slam.
New Yorker James Blake was taught a lesson by an imperious Roger Federer, the second seed and Wimbledon champion winning 6-3, 7-6, 6-3, and in the women’s draw 17th seed Meghann Shaughnessy was walloped 6-2, 6-4 by world No. 1 Kim Clijsters.
Belgian top seed Clijsters will next meet fifth seed Amelie Mauresmo of France, who overpowered Thai Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals. Federer next meets David Nalbandian of Argentina.
Nalbandian, who leads Federer 4-0 in matches played, saw off Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis 7-5, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2.
Earlier, third seed Lindsay Davenport became the first woman through to the quarters when she struggled past Russian Nadia Petrova 6-0, 6-7, 6-2.
Davenport, the 1998 US Open champion, had a pain-killing injection in her toe before the season’s last grand slam, and she appeared to be moving gingerly towards the end of the one hour 52 minutes match.
“It is what it is,” the American said of the injury. “I still feel pretty good...was able to get through it.”
Davenport will face Paola Suarez in the quarters. The 24th seed from Argentina beat Russian Elena Likhovtseva 6-2 3-6, 7-5.
Having been accused by Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic of influencing linesmen with his animated behavior in an emotionally-charged second-round clash, Roddick was subdued throughout his 87-minute match.
His tennis certainly did not suffer, however, and he heads into the next match with Belgian Xavier Malisse a deserved favorite to win his first grand slam. “I didn’t need it,” he said, explaining why he had been subdued. “Just so happened that the other night I really needed it,” he added, referring to his on-court antics of pumping himself up.
World No. 1 Agassi barely put a foot wrong once his match, held over from Saturday night, resumed under cloudless skies with the American leading 6-3, 0-1.
“It was a tough day yesterday for both me and the Y-man,” he added, referring to the rain that had halted the contest overnight.
Twice a winner at Flushing Meadows and three-times runner- up, Agassi underlined his determination to win a ninth grand slam with a top-notch performance.
