Hewitt Advances At U.S. Open

Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - Second-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal, fourth-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian and former champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia were among the first-round winners Wednesday at the U.S. Open. The two-time French Open champion Nadal handled 1998 U.S. Open runner-up Mark Philippoussis in 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 fashion at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Nadal dismissed Philippoussis on his first match point when the Aussie netted a forehand return after just over two hours of tennis. Philippoussis fired 19 aces, but had his big serve broken three times while failing to break Nadal`s ever-improving serve. The 20-year-old Nadal committed a mere 10 unforced errors, while the two-time Grand Slam runner-up Philippoussis piled up 35 in a losing effort. Nadal has never advanced beyond the third round here in Flushing, where he went out in the round of 32 last year. Philippoussis lost to Patrick Rafter in the `98 all-Aussie finale here. Up next for Nadal will be Peru`s Luis Horna, a 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 winner against Nadal`s countryman Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. The powerful Nadal beat world No. 1 Roger Federer in this year`s French Open final and lost to the mighty Swiss in the Wimbledon title bout. The Tennis Masters Cup champion Nalbandian came all the way back to beat upstart German Michael Berrer in five sets, 4-6, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. The Argentine star needed 3 hours, 34 minutes to stave off a game Berrer. Nalbandian wound up breaking Berrer`s serve seven times en route to the hard- fought decision. A 15th-seeded Hewitt humbled Spaniard Albert Montanes 7-5, 6-4, 6-3. The former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Hewitt captured this major in 2001 by topping the legendary Pete Sampras in the final. Former U.S. Open titlist Marat Safin of Russia handled Czech Robin Vik 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 on Day 3 here. The two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 Safin topped Sampras in the 2000 final. The big Russian will next battle Nalbandian in a marquee second-rounder. In other opening-round play, 10th-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez grounded Czech Jiri Vanek 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 and 12th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych blitzed Serbian Boris Pashanski 6-4, 6-2, 6-1. Action resumed Wednesday following Tuesday`s wash out here, where none of the scheduled 24 men`s matches were completed due to rain throughout the day. (Copyright 2005 by The Sports Network)