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Roddick and Berdych shown the exit door
Murray, Clijsters, Venus, Ivanovic through

On a day when the stifling New York summer heat with temperatures at Flushing Meadows once again soaring into the 30s Celsius had players reaching for their ice-packs at the US Open, hopes of a first US men's Grand Slam champion in seven years were set back with the defeat of Andy Roddick.

Roddick was the last US winner in 2003, the year before Roger Federer began his five-year reign, and, after a summer ruined by a bout of glandular fever, he looked back to his pumped-up best after taking the first set off dangerous Serb Janko Tipsarevic.

But the World No 44, who was out for three weeks recently with injuries to both ankles, took command of a second set tie-break and with Roddick upset by a series of foot faults, the Serb went on to win the second round tie 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

In the third round he will meet French showman Gael Monfils.

US hopes were kept alive, however, with wins for twin giants Sam Querrey and John Isner and the expectations are high that they are both capable of progressing deep into the tournament.

Off to a winning start in his opener was British fourth seed Andy Murray, who eased past Slovakia's Lukas Lacko 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

Murray, seen by many as the main threat to tournament favourite Federer, agreed that his late start to the tournament, which leaves him needing to play seven matches in 12 days was not ideal.

"Well, it's a lot easier to play seven matches in 14 days. Anyone would tell you that," he said.

"It's just different here with the Saturday, Sunday, semi and final which is always tricky for all of the players.

"It's always been that way, so not a problem."

The biggest casualty of the day in men's first round action was seventh seed Thomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, who was soundly beaten 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 6-4 by the net-charging Michael Llodra of France.

"That was a great win certainly the finest I've had in a Grand Slam tournament," Llodra said, adding that he had been on the verge of calling off from the match on Monday due to a foot injury.

Women's second round action saw straight wins over 19-year-old qualifiers for defending champion and second seed Kim Clijsters and for third seed Venus Williams.

The popular Belgian saw off Australian Sally Peers 6-3, 6-1, while Williams was made to dig deep by Rebecca Marino of Canada before pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

Clijsters said that although she had conceded just nine games in her first two matches, she still needed to play better to have any hope of winning a third US title.

"Obviously I'm satisfied that I've gotten through, but my level definitely has to become better," she said.

Also through was French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, who looked back to near her best in a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Spain's Maria Elena Camerin. The 30-year-old Italian, who played the best tennis of her life to lift the French crown in Paris in June, said that although she was pleased with the way she had played, she still needed to improve.

Just as impressive was former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, who looked more like her old self in crushing China's Zheng Jie 6-3, 6-0 in the opening match on the Arthur Ashe Centre Court.

But an accidental fall in training session prior to her second round tie with Gisela Dulko of Argentina resulted later in a dramatic exit for 10th seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

The 10th seed was 5-1 down in a second round tie against Dulko when she suddenly collapsed in a heap behind the baseline. She received urgent medical treatment for several minutes before being taken away in a wheelchair to hospital.

AFP