LEYTON HEWITT, the 2001 champion, cruised into the second round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows as he thrashed Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-3 6-2 6-2.

Top seed Kim Clijsters overcame a shaky start to ease into the second round of the US Open with a 6-2 6-3 victory over American wild card Amber Liu.