Federer, Henin Highlight Open Play Today

NEW YORK (AP) _ More big names are set to play at the U.S. Open Wednesday, with top seeds Roger Federer and Justine Henin, Rafael Nadal and the Williams sisters on the schedule. <br/><br/>Yesterday, it

Wednesday, August 29th 2007, 7:49 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ More big names are set to play at the U.S. Open Wednesday, with top seeds Roger Federer and Justine Henin, Rafael Nadal and the Williams sisters on the schedule.

Yesterday, it didn't take Maria Sharapova very long to work her way into the second round. The second seed and defending women's champ needed just 50 minutes to complete a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Roberta Vinci under the lights at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.

Men's fifth seed Andy Roddick followed Sharapova on stadium court and cruised to a 7-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Justin Gimmelstob, who is retiring.

Other first-round winners on the women's side yesterday were fourth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, 11th-seed Patty Schnyder, number-13 Nicole Vaidisova and number-16 Martina Hingis. But ninth seed Daniela Hantuchova was beaten in three sets.

Number-3 Novak Djokovic was the highest-seeded winner in the men's bracket yesterday, hammering his way to a straight-sets victory in the first round. Sixth seed James Blake won his opening-round match, as did 12th seed Ivan Llubicic and number-15 David Ferrer.

Men's top seed Roger Federer and number-2 Rafael Nadal are part of today's schedule, as are women's top seed Justine Henin and number-3 Jelena Jankovic.