Whitewash after the scrubbing

But it has been injuries and hip surgery rather than a loss of form which have torpedoed his ranking and the former world number one put them all behind him to blow the 2000 champion off court.

Coming into the Open having lost 10 of his 23 matches this year, Kuerten — now 46th in the world — carried no form to speak of, but the three-times French Open champion turned on the style to pummel his old adversary.

The mighty Russian had no answer to Kuerten’s tracer-like groundstrokes and deceptively powerful serving as the Brazilian found ever-more acute angles off the ground to record his first victory over a top 10 player this year.

Britain’s Tim Henman avoided any New York pitfalls, though, serve-volleying his way past Belgian qualifier Dick Norman 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.

The fifth seed has never gone beyond the fourth round at the final Grand Slam of the year, but looked fit and focused on a damp and overcast day five.

Kicking his serves with heavy topspin and floating his approach shots on to the lines, Henman showed no sign of the shoulder injury which has troubled him to dominate from the start of the one hour 54 minute match.

He will next face either France’s Michael Llodra or Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela. Belgian women’s eighth seed Justine Henin also advanced smoothly, ending New York native Bea Bielik’s run 7-5, 6-1.

On Thursday evening third seed Jennifer Capriati clattered Tina Pisnik 6-4, 6-2 in powerful fashion.

Andre Agassi shuffled on to Arthur Ashe stadium court after Davenport and shuffled off just 66 minutes later having inflicted a humiliating 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 defeat on fellow American Justin Gimelstob.

Top seed Lleyton Hewitt continued his defence with a 7-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Noam Okun of Israel.(Reuters)