NEW YORK, 31 August 2004 — Second seed Amelie Mauresmo made a steady start to her quest for a first Grand Slam title as she beat American Marissa Irvin 6-4, 6-2 yesterday to reach the second round.
The Frenchwoman, a semifinalist at Flushing Meadows in 2002, was made to fight harder than expected but her greater consistency proved the difference as she clinched victory in one hour, 13 minutes.
Looking relaxed and confident, Mauresmo, who has won three titles this year, raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set, but the 24-year-old Irvin broke back in the ninth game, only for a netted forehand in the 10th game to hand Mauresmo the set. An early break in the second set put Mauresmo in control and though Irvin forced a break point in the fifth game, the Frenchwoman held firm to advance.
Italian Francesca Schiavone, the 16th seed, was the first woman to progress after she beat Klara Koukalova of Czech Republic 6-1, 6-3, while 12th seed Ai Sugiyama of Japan ousted American Teryn Ashley 7-5, 6-2.
Confident Hewitt Wins Second Straight Title
In Long Island, Australian Lleyton Hewitt boosted his confidence for US Open with a crushing 6-3, 6-1 win over Peru’s Luis Horna here Sunday to win the $380,000 ATP event.
Hewitt claimed his second trophy in as many weeks after winning in Washington seven days ago. The win also gives the Australian an extra payday in the new US Open Series for the top three finishers on a summer circuit, which began in July in Los Angeles.
Hewitt breezed through the first set in 29 minutes. Horna double faulted four times early in the contest and the Australian seized on the opportunities when the Peruvian made more than 20 errors.
