NEW YORK — Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwnaska and former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic breezed into the US Open second round Tuesday as both women look to bury their woeful Flushing Meadows records. Polish second seed Radwanska and Ivanovic, the 12th-seeded Serb who was French Open champion in 2008, have never gone beyond the fourth round in New York but have been quarterfinalists at the other three majors. Radwanska, whose New York best came in 2007 and who lost in the second round in 2011, began her campaign with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Nina Bratchikova with the Russian's challenge undone by 28 unforced errors. Next up for Radwanska, who became the first Polish woman to make a Grand Slam final when she lost to Serena Williams at Wimbledon last month, is Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro. “It's always a bit harder (coming in as second seed) because people expect you to play well and go far in the tournament,” said 23-year-old Radwanska, who only needed 54 minutes to progress Tuesday. “But I am just trying not to really think about pressure. I don't really have many points to defend from last year. At least this is the good thing.” Radwanska also admitted that a right shoulder injury is still causing her some concern. Ivanovic — whose fourth-round appearances came in 2007, 2010 and 2011 — defeated 17-year-old Ukrainian qualifier Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-2 and goes on to face Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson. Svitolina, the 2010 French Open junior champion, was one of nine teenagers in the main draw. Arvidsson reached the second round by seeing off 41-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan 6-4 6-2. Asian hopes took a further battering when Chinese 32nd seed Peng Shuai tumbled out 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 to Russia's Elena Vesnina. On Monday, Andy Murray's serve was anything but golden on the opening day of the US Open but the Olympic champion still had too much firepower for Alex Bogomolov Jr. and led a parade of favorites into the second round. The top guns had little trouble making it through their first-round encounters, with world No. 1 Roger Federer, three-time champion Kim Clijsters, and top-seeded Victoria Azarenka hardly breaking sweat. Murray was at his best when it mattered most, recording a service break in a healthy nine of 19 chances against the 29-year-old Russian to win 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 in two hours, 15 minutes. However, the Scotsman successfully landed only 49 percent of his first serves in humid, windy conditions against Bogomolov. Federer, seeking his sixth title at Flushing Meadows, dismantled American Donald Young 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, while Clijsters overwhelmed American teenager Victoria Duval 6-3 6-1. Not to be outdone, Azarenka, seeking her second major title after winning this year's Australian Open, blew past Russian Alexandra Panova 6-0, 6-1 in just 50 minutes. Defending champion Samantha Stosur needed only 51 minutes to blitz Croatia's Petra Martic 6-1, 6-1, while 2006 US Open winner Maria Sharapova blew by Hungary's Melinda Czink 6-2, 6-2. Clijsters, who will retire after the tournament, said she was not scared that her match against Duval under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium could be her last. “I didn't really think about that,” said the 29-year-old Belgian. “I was just excited to be out there and to have the opportunity to play in this kind of condition, prime time. It was a lot of fun to go out there. But still a bit nervous, too.” The rain caused a two-and-a-half hour delay and threatened to wreak havoc on the schedule but the sun reappeared to create steamy conditions and play resumed. — Agencies
