World number one Kim Clijsters overcame a slow start and third seed Lindsay Davenport shrugged off injury fears as two of the tournament favourites booked safe passage into the second round of the US Open on Monday.
American Davenport stormed through with a 6-1, 6-0 demolition of Belgium's Els Callens while Clijsters began her bid for a first career grand slam title in emphatic style by taming American wildcard Amber Lui 6-2, 6-3.
They were joined in the winners' circle by Clijsters' long-term boyfriend and men's sixth seed Lleyton Hewitt.
Champion here in 2001, Hewitt crushed Romania's Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in the night match at Flushing Meadows.
The Australian's one-sided victory followed an emotional farewell by Pete Sampras, champion at New York last year.
The 32-year-old winner of a record 14 Grand Slam titles was treated to a standing ovation which reduced him to tears on center court.
"It's not easy saying goodbye," Sampras told the crowd. "I love playing here in New York but in my heart I know it (retirement) is the right thing to do."
HOT FAVOURITE
Hot favourite to win the women's title following the withdrawal of defending champion Serena Williams and her sister, twice winner Venus, top seed Clijsters got her match off to a stuttering start against her 290th-ranked opponent.
But in the end, the Belgian needed only 62 minutes to reach the second round.
"I felt good...was moving good," Clijsters told reporters. "That is a great feeling to have at a tournament."
Davenport, champion here in 1998, raced through the opening set of her match in 21 minutes and then turned up the tempo in the second, completing the contest in a lightning-quick 47 minutes.
But eighth-seeded American Chanda Rubin produced a horrible performance as she crumbled in the first round 6-4, 6-4 to Venezuelan Maria Vento-Kabchi.
"It was just a really bad day for me," said Rubin. "I just didn't play with enough glue, with enough consistency. I really didn't concentrate well enough.
"She hit a lot of balls, played pretty well that way. I needed to be more aggressive. Overall it was a poor match for me."
Rubin, who reached the fourth round here last year, was at a loss to explain her display.
"THE WORST"
"I don't know, I just wasn't ready to play today," she said. "I thought I would play a little better but it didn't happen. I missed a lot.
"I can't remember playing quite this bad (before). This was definitely one of the worst."
Earlier on day one of the $17.1 million grand slam, Ashley Harkleroad gave the home crowd something to cheer by racking up her first U.S. Open victory, the American teenager thumping Russian Vera Douchevina 6-4, 6-2 in 65 minutes.
In the men's draw, third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Czech Jan Vacek 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 but ninth seed Sebastien Grosjean and 17th seed Tommy Robredo fell.
Frenchman Grosjean, a Wimbledon semi-finalist this year, lost to Paraguayan Ramon Delgado 6-4, 6-7, 4-6 7-6, 6-4 and Robredo was beaten 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 by fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
Former finalist Greg Rusedski of Britain lost a marathon match 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to Frenchman Gregory Carraz.
Davenport's participation in the U.S. Open appeared in doubt on Saturday when she was forced to retire midway through the Pilot Pen final against Jennifer Capriati because of a painful, pinched toe nerve in her left foot.
The former world number one skipped a scheduled practice session on Sunday after receiving a cortisone injection on Saturday evening to help with the pain.
EXTREMELY NERVOUS
"Today, I was extremely nervous and kind of edgy and trying to go out there, 'if it's gonna hurt, will it be okay?'" said Davenport, who will undergo surgery after the U.S. Open.
"It's kind of a weird feeling not knowing. I'm just happy to get through this match and get through quickly."
In the second round Davenport will take on Italy's Maria Elena Camerin.
With the Williams sisters sidelined through injury, Davenport was rated as a top contender for the title until her foot injury flared again in New Haven.
But her performance against the 80th-ranked Callens indicated the 27-year-old American could still be a major threat at the season's final Grand Slam.
"I think right now I'm more worried about my health and how it's going to be on a day-to-day level," said Davenport.
"I think maybe if I didn't have my foot (injury) and I was 100 percent, I would be a little more eager, excited."
