Hewitt storms into third round

Top seed Lleyton Hewitt stamped his authority on the Australian Open today with a demolition of Australian qualifier Todd Larkham.

Hewitt had been tested in a first round tussle with Magnus Larsson while his chief rival, American veteran Andre Agassi, stole his thunder.

But, typically, the 21-year-old Australian ace refused to be outdone, thumping Larkham 6-1 6-0 6-1 in just 74 minutes.

Agassi’s brutal second round win over Korean Hyung-Taik Lee yesterday took just 80 minutes, while Hewitt’s Belgian girlfriend, women’s fourth seed Kim Clijsters, today raced to a crushing 6-0 6-0 win in only 33 minutes.

Hewitt seized the first set in 23 minutes, allowing just seven points to Larkham, who needed treatment for an injured shoulder while trailing 3-0 in the second set.

Grimacing and hiding his face in a towel, Larkham was forced to call a three-minute medical break.

When he returned, having already lost eight games on the trot, Larkham found no sympathy from Hewitt, who quickly clinched the second set.

Larkham then managed to hold his serve for only the second time in the match, and, punching the air, received warm applause in the packed Rod Laver Arena.

But Hewitt was relentless to the end, breaking to love in the last game.