Russia's Safina nearly runs aground in opening round

The Russian armada of potential US Open champions nearly lost its commander when top seed Dinara Safina had to dig out of a third-set quandary to avoid the humiliation of a first-round exit on Tuesday.

Safina, the world's top-ranked player, uncorked 48 unforced errors and 11 double faults before conquering Australian Olivia Rogowska 6-7 6-2 6-4 in two hours and 35 agonising minutes.

"I didn't break any racket and I didn't get a warning so that's already a positive," said Safina, a triple grand slam finalist whose volatile temperament is well documented.

While Safina escaped and set up a second-round encounter with Germany's Kristina Barrois, compatriots Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva advanced easily.

On the men's side, 2008 runner-up and second seed Andy Murray advanced, along with 2007 finalist Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed, and hard-hitting number seven Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Safina's near-flameout allowed her to avoid the dubious distinction of becoming the only top-seeded woman to lose in the first round of the US Open.

The explosive Muscovite was down 0-3, 15-40 in the final set before making a Houdini-like escape on the sun-drenched hardcourt at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I will never give up," said Safina, still looking for her maiden grand slam triumph.

"So it doesn't matter how I play, I will run and I will stay there forever."

She certainly never gave up but she was also helped by the 65 unforced errors and 13 double-faults from her little-known opponent across the net.

Sixth seed and 2004 winner Kuznetsova stomped Germany's Julia Goerges 6-3 6-2, while Sharapova, the 2006 champion, blitzed Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3 6-0.

Another Russian contender, 2004 finalist Dementieva, routed Frenchwoman Camille Pin 6-1 6-2 in 59 minutes.

Murray used a patient game to defeat big-hitting Ernests Gulbis, of Latvia, 7-5 6-3 7-5, while Djokovic never lost his serve and cruised past Croat Ivan Ljubicic 6-3 6-1 6-3.

"When I needed to, I upped my game," said Murray.

"My concentration could have been a bit better. But for a first match, it was very good because he played very well."

The fans at Flushing Meadows were gracious to Djokovic, who was booed loudly a year ago after he made some sarcastic comments toward Andy Roddick during a courtside interview.

"What happened last year was like a fight with a girlfriend," he said.

Mauresmo out

Amelie Mauresmo suffered her earliest ever loss at the US Open yesterday, beaten 6-4 6-0 in the second round by Aleksandra Wozniak.

The 17th seed led 2-0 in the first set but then fell apart as the world number 39 cruised to victory to reach the third round in New York for the first time.

It is the first time Mauresmo has gone out of the US Open before the third round in 10 appearances.

Wozniak will now play 10th seed Flavia Pennetta after the Italian whitewashed Sania Mirza 6-0 6-0.