Russia's Maria Sharapova hit her shots so sharply against Jelena Jankovic, many fans at Louis Armstrong Stadium left their seats early in hopes of finding a more competitive match.
They missed seeing things get interesting at the US Open.
After breezing through the first seven games Thursday, Sharapova started bumbling. Soon after that, despite winning a 27-stroke point in the tiebreaker, the Wimbledon champion found herself again in a decisive third set.
But then, a bad omen for Jankovic: For some reason, her name began flickering on the scoreboard lights.
And so did her hopes of an upset, especially when she needed treatment for a recurring left hip strain. Sharapova ramped up and claimed 15 straight points in winning 6-0, 6-7 (5), 6-1.
"I felt that I could hit any shot from anywhere on the court," the Russian teen said. "That's a good feeling to have when you're in the third set."
Most of the top players struggled a bit.
Venus Williams got off to a slow start before beating fellow American Shikha Uberoi 7-5, 6-1, and defending Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium defeated Israeli qualifier Tzipi Obziler 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
Andre Agassi took control after an early stagger and led 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 when Florian Mayer of Germany quit with a left hamstring injury.
Playing in his 19th straight Open, the 34-year-old Agassi outlasted his 20-year-old opponent.
"I just don't want to play old. That's what I'm concerned about out there," Agassi said. "I feel like if I can still play my tennis, then I'm proud of that."
The reigning French Open champions weren't so fortunate, as No. 4 Russian Anastasia Myskina and No. 9 Gaston Gaudio of Argentina both lost.
In perhaps the most entertaining match of the day -- and night -- Olympic double gold medalist Nicolas Massu of Chile lost to Armenia's Sargis Sargian 6-7 (6), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4. At five hours, 9 minutes, it was the second-longest match by time in Open history -- Stefan Edberg beat Michael Chang in a 1992 semifinal that lasted 17 minutes more.
Massu spiced up his match by cracking his racket on a fence and later slamming it on a fence. Chair umpire Carlos Ramos docked Massu a point for his first outburst and penalized him a game in the final set for the tantrum.
"I played for five hours, I fight a lot, and this guy comes here, gives me two or three warnings. I accept the first two warnings. If I have to pay something, I accept it. But the third is unbelievable," Massu said. "This guy's unbelievable. He's never going to umpire me again."
Williams' victory made for history. For the first time at the US Open, four black women advanced to the third round.
Williams joined her sister, Serena, along with Chanda Rubin and Angela Haynes in advancing.
"The best thing is that we're all American, and this tournament represents America," Venus said.
All four players will not reach the fourth round. Venus Williams and Rubin face each other in their next match.
On Friday, Haynes plays Italy's Francesca Schiavone while Serena Williams takes on Tatiana Golovin of France.
No. 3 Carlos Moya defeated US wild card Amer Delic lost to 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in Thursday's final match. The second-seeded Roddick plays Spain's Rafael Nadal on Friday.
Agassi kept rolling, and left no doubt that he was far from done. After his win moved him closer toward a ninth Grand Slam championship, he asked whether he might be thinking about leaving tennis sometime soon.
RSS