Tennis: Kuznetsova first women's champ to lose in opening round

NEW YORK - Svetlana Kuznetsova made an unwanted piece of tennis history today when she became the first defending women's champion to lose in the US Open first round.

The out-of-sorts Russian stomped off court stony-faced after being thrashed 6-3 6-2 by little-known compatriot Ekaterina Bychkova.

In the men's singles, Argentine ninth seed Gaston Gaudio also suffered a premature exit, losing 7-6 6-2 6-4 to US wild card Brian Baker, but Spanish second seed Rafael Nadal made easy progress.

Women's contenders Kim Clijsters and the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, also recorded impressive first round victories.

Fifth seed Kuznetsova has struggled to live up to her success last year, failing to win a single title in 2005 and the 20-year-old looked thoroughly miserable on Louis Armstrong Court.

Bychkova, also 20 but ranked only 97 and making her grand slam debut, dominated from the start while Kuznetsova ballooned errors from all angles.

"Of course I'm disappointed," said Kuznetsova. "I just didn't play my game. I will learn from it."

Her defeat gave Russia a disappointing grand slam double in 2005. Anastasia Myskina also lost as defending champion in the first round of this year's French Open.

Gaudio, the 2004 French Open champion, offered little resistance after losing the first set tiebreak 11-9 to Baker, who took advantage to record his first victory at a grand slam event and only the fourth win of his career.

"He was better than me today. I didn't do anything," said Gaudio.

Reigning French Open champion Nadal, the 19-year-old Spaniard who has won nine titles this year and risen to No.2 in the world, displayed flashes of his usual panache in beating American wild card Bobby Reynolds 6-3 6-3 6-4.

"The first match is never easy," said the teenager. "I didn't play very, very well today, but the most important thing is to win the match."

Women's eighth seed Serena showed little sign of her nagging knee and ankle injury when she overwhelmed Taiwanese 16-year-old Yung-Jan Chan 6-1 6-3.

Fourth seed Clijsters made even shorter work of German qualifier Martina Mueller, winning 6-1 6-2.

Twice former champion Serena appeared more troubled by the US$40,000 ($58,200)-worth of diamond earrings she was wearing than her opponent during the first set. She removed the jewellery after one earring fell off midway through it.

The American trailed 3-1 after losing her serve before reeling off the next five games.

"I was playing really flat and lazy (in the second set) so I said, 'Ok, Serena let's pick it up and play.' I feel awesome. I feel I have no pressure," the Australian Open champion said.

Williams could face older sister Venus in the fourth round and Clijsters in the quarterfinals.

Against Mueller, Clijsters showed the form that has brought her six titles this year, although she is still seeking a first grand slam title.

The hard-hitting Belgian needed only 53 minutes to complete an impressive workout on the Louis Armstrong court, sealing her victory with a thunderous first serve.

"It feels great," said Clijsters. "I'm very happy with the way I've been playing the whole summer here in America." Wimbledon champion Venus emulated Serena's winning scoreline by outclassing Japan's Rika Fujiwara 6-3 6-1.

Russian top seed Maria Sharapova and 35-year-old American Andre Agassi open their campaigns in the evening session against Greek Eleni Daniilidou and Romanian Razvan Sabau.

- REUTERS