Radwanska cruises into second round

Second seed Agnieszka Radwanska swatted aside Russia’s Nina Bratchikova to reach the second round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows today.

The Pole made her first grand slam final at Wimbledon earlier this summer, losing in three sets to Serena Williams, and she was never troubled in a 6-1 6-1 victory on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Former world number one Ana Ivanovic, seeded 12th, is also through, the Serbian beating Ukrainian qualifier Elina Svitolina 6-3 6-2 in round one.

It was the end of the road, though, for 41-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm from Japan, who continues to put aside talk of retirement but lost out 6-4 6-2 to Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson.

Radwanska retired during her first match in New Haven last week because of a right shoulder problem and wore heavy strapping today.

The 23-year-old said: “I’m just very happy that I could give it my best in the first match. My shoulder feels better right now.

“It’s always difficult. Every week it’s a different surface, different balls.”

Ivanovic has not played since Montreal three weeks ago because of a foot problem, and she could not have taken a break on a worse note after losing 6-0 6-0 to Roberta Vinci.

The Serb said: “In that first game I was like, ’Oh, my God at least I should win a game first’.

“In all seriousness, it wasn’t easy, especially as it was one of my first matches on hard courts as well.

“It’s a lot different. We have been playing on grass for a long time this season. Taking all into consideration, I’m really happy with today’s performance.”

Two seeds were sent packing, with 24th seed Klara Zakopalova losing 6-4 6-4 to fellow Czech Andrea Hlavackova while Russia’s Elena Vesnina knocked out 32nd seed Peng Shuai from China 7-6 (7/5) 6-1.