Kim makes winning return

It has been a good return thus far,one that has included four wins over top-20 opponents in two tournaments in August. Granted,this was only the first round of the U.S. Open,but her 58-minute win over Kutuzova included very few signs of rust.

She won the first seven and last 11 points of the match and grinded through her few hiccups,including three double-faults in the third game of the opening set,which extended to seven deuces before she pulled it out.

The win guaranteed she’ll be ranked at least 148th after the Open,when she’ll have played the three required tournaments she needs to return to the list.

Other winners in the first round included 8th-seeded Victoria Azarenka,12th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and 26th-seeded Francesca Schiavone. Five-time defending champion Roger Federer was scheduled to play NCAA champion Devin Britton later Monday.

The Williams sisters were both on the schedule,as were Andy Roddick and James Blake.

Big hope Querrey

Another American,Sam Querrey,will debut later this week,bringing with him some lofty expectations —notably,that he might be the next great American tennis star in a country that is looking for just that.

“Everyone is doing what they can,” said Querrey,who is seeded 22nd.

Querrey stands 6-foot-6 and ranks third on tour with 696 aces this year,a stat that is allowing him to become more aggressive in his return game,as well,because he’s more confident about holding serve.

He is 21-6 since Wimbledon and has played in four finals,including a victory in Los Angeles.

His biggest win this summer was a 7-6 (11),7-6 (3) victory over Roddick,one that may not signal Querrey is ready to rise all the way to the top,but certainly serves as a confidence builder. “It also helps if you play Federer or Nadal,” Querrey said. “Andy’s beaten those guys. Hey,he did it,I beat him,why can’t I beat those guys? So it kind of gives you that extra edge against them,too.”

Easy for Federer

Meanwhile,world No 1 and five-time US Open winner Roger Federer extended his winning streak here to 35 matches with a 6-1 6-3 7-5 victory over NCAA champion Devin Britton in the first round.

The top-seeded Federer is trying to become the first man since Bill Tilden in the 1920s to win six consecutive titles at the American Grand Slam tournament.

EDDIE PELLS