Women's top seed Maria Sharapova of Russia and 2001 men's champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia have both scored wins at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York.
Sharapova ousted German Julia Schruff in straight sets (6-2, 6-4). The Russian next faces India's Sania Mirza, who scored a straight-set win over Marion Bartoli of France (7-6, 6-4).
Two-time champion Serena Williams of the United States was another winner, beating Italian Francesca Schiavone, 6-3, 6-4. Williams could face her sister, Venus, in the next round. Venus Williams plays Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia late Friday.
Meanwhile, men's third seed Lleyton Hewitt of Australia scored a straight-set win over Jose Acasuso of Argentina (7-6, 7-6, 6-2). Hewitt takes on American Taylor Dent in the third round. Dent scored a four-set win over Nicolas Almagro of Spain (6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5).
Sixth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia lost in straight sets to Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand (6-4, 7-5, 6-3). Max Mirnyi of Belarus defeated Florent Serra of France (7-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6). David Ferrer of Spain ousted Karol Kucera of Slovakia in straight sets (6-3, 6-0, 6-2).
Some information for this story provided by AP and AFP.