MARTINA HINGIS led a youthful charge as Australian Open finalist Anke Huber and Magdalena Maleeva lost out in a hot, sunny opening to the US Open at Flushing Meadow, New York yesterday.
The 15-year-old Hingis, seeded 16th, was honoured to play the first match of the season's last Grand Slam on Stadium Court but happy to hurry off with a straight-sets victory over the 112th-ranked Angeles Montolio of Spain.
"It was very hot and I didn't want to stay long on the court," said a cheery Hingis, who had no worries in racing to a 6-1 6-0 victory against the overmatched Spaniard.
Hoping for a longer engagement on the cement at Flushing Meadows were the sixth-seeded Huber of Germany and 12th seed Maleeva of Bulgaria.
Huber, who lost to Monica Seles in the Australian Open final, fell victim to an unfortunate draw in bowing to dangerous floater Amanda Coetzer of South Africa.
Coetzer, ranked 17th, avenged her defeat to Huber in the Australian Open semi-finals by winning 6-1 2-6 6-2.
Maleeva fell to competition rookie Aleksandra Olsza of Poland, ranked 110th.
The 18-year-old, last year's Wimbledon junior champion, celebrated her debut in the main draw of the Open by winning 6-4 6-2.
Two big-serving women's players made quick work of Japanese opponents.
Brenda Schultz-McCarthy of Holland, the 13th seed, was a 6-1 6-4 winner over Japan's Nana Miyaga, while Czech veteran Helena Sukova prevailed over Yone Kamio 6-2 6-3.
Austrian Barbara Paulus, seeded 14th, also reached the second round with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Yi Jing-Qian of China.
In the men's competition, Michael Stich dropped a set in beating fellow German Tommy Haas 6-3 1-6 6-1 7-5.
The 1991 Wimbledon champion will now meet twice French Open champion Sergi Bruguera, who made short work of Belgian opponent Kris Goossens, 6-2 6-0 7-6.
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