Back in top 10, Moya advances

NEW YORK (AP) -- Carlos Moya, awarded his highest Grand Slam seed in three years at No. 9, advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday by defeating Adrian Voinea 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (4).

It was a grind for Moya, a clay-court specialist who came into the Open after winning at Cincinnati -- just the second hardcourt title of his career. Ten of his previous 11 victories were on clay, and he won at Cincinnati by defeating No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in the final.

Hewitt, the Open's defending champion, and two-time women's champion Venus Williams were scheduled for their first matches later Tuesday -- Williams vs. Mirjana Lucic and Hewitt vs. Nicolas Coutelot.

Third-seeded Jennifer Capriati plays Bethanie Mattek and No. 11 Andy Roddick faces Martin Verkerk at night.

Moya came into the Open with four titles this year, tying Andre Agassi and Hewitt for the most on the tour. Voinea's loss was the first time since 1995 that he has lost in the opening round of this tournament.

Other early winners on Tuesday were seventh-seeded Kim Clijsters, who beat Conchita Martinez Granados 6-1, 6-0, in just 42 minutes and Jan-Michael Gambill, who led 6-1, 2-1 when Julian Knowle retired.

Venus' sister, top-seeded Serena Williams, advanced Monday night with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over cancer survivor Corina Morariu, who was upbeat, as positive as any first-round loser at the U.S. Open could be.

Sometimes there are more important issues than wins and losses. Sometimes there is life and death.

In her return to Grand Slam tennis after battling leukemia for 1 1/2 years, Morariu gave Williams a match. She broke her a couple of times and hung tough in the loss.

"I don't know if I would say I was nervous," Morariu said. "You know there were definitely a lot of emotions. Obviously not having played for so long, a little uncertainty in what to expect."

Then as she talked about the match, her return to a major tournament and the support of the night crowd at the National Tennis Center, the emotions caught up with her and the tears began.

"I think there are days when you feel so bad and things get so difficult that you don't think that you're going to be able to do the things you used to be able to do," she said. "I didn't think I'd ever be back here. So for me to be back here and play tonight, it was obviously very emotional and a very special feeling.

"There were eight months when I never thought I'd be able to play tennis again, and sometimes I doubted what I was ever going to be able to do physically."

She had been a guest at the Open last year, a cancer patient facing an uncertain future.

"I was starting my third round of chemo," she said. "I had no hair. I was pale and thin. I had to leave and know that I was going to feel really, really sick in a few days. It was a difficult time. It was so special for me to be back here and to see everybody.

"But it also was one of the most difficult things I had to do. I get emotional just talking about it."

Between the emotions of Morariu's return and a patriotic Salute to Heroes before night play, this was no ordinary match for Williams.

Winner of the last two Grand Slams, Serena drilled nine aces at Morariu and took care of business. Concentration was not a problem.

"I think not in a Grand Slam, no," she said. "You just have to kind of brush it aside."

And she did.

Agassi, seeded sixth, had fewer emotions to deal with and dispatched Robby Ginepri 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

Agassi moved relentlessly and was never troubled, posting a fifth straight first-night victory at the Open. Agassi is 20-3 in night sessions at this event.

"You work hard to make a score line appear to be easy," he said. "It's rare you win a match when you feel there's not a lot to feel good about. For the most part, I was right where I wanted to be.

"You can't win seven unless you win the first one. I did everything I needed to do tonight. I controlled everything I wanted to. I know it's only going to get better."

Despite his success, night matches pose some issues for Agassi.

"It's not an easy start time -- 9:15, 9:30," he said. "I'm used to pushing away from the dinner table at that time."

 

Related information

Stories

Agassi dismisses Ginepri in straight sets Serena, Davenport cruise through Open's first round Notebook: Opening ceremony honors 9/11 heroes

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video