Hewitt, Agassi cruise into third round

Top seed Lleyton Hewitt and sixth seed Andre Agassi both moved comfortably into the third round of the US Open with straight sets wins.

Agassi, a two-time winner competing at Flushing Meadows for the 17th time, blew compatriot Justin Gimelstob away 6-0 6-1 6-1 as the younger man’s serve wilted under the pressure.

It took Gimelstob until the sixth game of the second set before he could even hold his own serve, while Agassi did not even offer him a break point in the match.

The American was able to finish his work in just 63 minutes, while Hewitt had to work a little harder but also emerged essentially unscathed against Israeli qualifier Noam Okun.

Hewitt won 7-6 (9/7) 6-4 6-1, gradually establishing superiority during the match despite having to work hard in the early stages.

His characteristic determination to run down every point was in evidence, and he looked every inch the world number one and top seed.

American 25th seed James Blake defeated Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-3 4-6 6-1 6-3.