Capriati cruises into second round

Sixth seed Jennifer Capriati, who has emerged as one of the favourites in the absence of injured sisters Serena and Venus Williams, cruised into the second round of the US Open with a 35-minute destruction of Spain’s Cristina Torrens Valero, 6-0 6-1.

Capriati wore a blue sleeveless dark blue dress with white stars and matching sneakers and called the outfit “Star spangled Jennifer” at Flushing Meadows.

And the American was delighted with her form after recovering from a shoulder injury.

“It’s amazing how things turn around in my game when I’m feeling physically and mentally good,” said Capriati.

“I’m almost playing better now than in 2001 and 2002.”

French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne had a tougher match before finally beating Hungarian qualifier Aniko Kapros 7-5 6-3.

The 21-year-old Belgian, who won her first career Grand Slam at Roland Garros in June, said: “The first match is always tough, especially in Grand Slams.

“A first round is never easy, especially against a qualifier who played three matches before playing the first round in the main draw.

“When I had to play (well), I did it. I’m in the second round, that’s the most important thing.”

Bulgaria’s Magdalena Maleeva, the 10th seed, was knocked out by Shinobu Asagoe 6-4 6-3.

The Japanese avenged a loss earlier this year at Birmingham, where Maleeva went on to win the event, and avoided a three-match losing streak at the US Open.

Ai Sugiyama, seeded 15, joined her fellow countrywoman in the second round after thrashing Spain’s Conchita Martinez Granados 6-1 6-0 in just 44 minutes.

And 22nd seed Jelena Dokic, from Yugoslavia, recorded a 6-4 6-2 triumph over Switzerland’s Emmanuelle Gagliardi.

A pair of seeded Russians also booked their places in the second round - seventh seed Anastasia Myskina posted a 6-2 3-6 6-1 victory over Henrieta Nagyova of Slovakia and 11th seed Elena Dementieva defeated Czech qualifier Alena Vaskova 6-2 6-3.