US Open: Hingis cruises as Bastl crashes

Hingis is all smiles after her speedy win Keystone

The Swiss world number one, Martina Hingis, has breezed into the third round of the US Open tennis tournament, beating America's Kristina Brandi 6-1, 6-1. But in the men's game George Bastl failed to make it past the first round.

Hingis needed just 44 minutes to win her second round match, hitting 29 point-winning shots while making just four unforced errors. Brandi was unable to win a single service game, and was beaten on the first match ball against her.

A busy schedule appears to be motivating Hingis. After the match with Brandi she said that she hadn’t wanted to spend too much time on court because of her involvement in both the women’s and the mixed doubles.

The singles tournament will clearly be her main concern, though. The US Open offers Hingis her last opportunity to win a Grand Slam title this season.

Her third round opponent will be Italy’s Tathiana Garbin, who beat Jelena Kostanic of Croatia 6-1, 6-3.

Hingis and Kostanic last played each other at the French Open, also in the third round, with Hingis enjoying another convincing straight sets win (6-1, 6-0).

While Hingis sailed into the third round, the Swiss men’s player George Bastl was unable to progress beyond the first, after being knocked out of the tournament by Australia’s Richard Fromberg.

Bastl started well, winning the first set 6-4. But the next three sets went against him, Fromberg eventually winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

Patty Schnyder is the only Swiss player due to play in the singles on Thursday. The Swiss women’s number two will be looking to join Hingis in the third round with a victory over Japan’s Shinobu Asagoe. Schnyder is currently 22nd in the women’s world rankings, 72 places higher than Asagoe.

swissinfo with agencies