Venus, Capriati, Agassi solid as Hewitt wobbles

While other big names wobbled at the U.S. Open on Saturday, Venus Williams, Andre Agassi and Jennifer Capriati stayed rock solid, recording quickfire victories to slice further through the Grand Slam draw.

Venus smashed German Martina Mueller 6-1, 6-2 in just 41 minutes, Capriati crushed fellow American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-2, 6-2 in 56 minutes, while Agassi battered Ramon Delgado of Paraguay 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 in 89 minutes.

Their emphatic victories were in stark contrast to the progress of men's top seed and defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, who needed five nerve-jangling sets to shake off American favourite James Blake.

The Australian eventually prevailed 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 but the match was not without its uncomfortable moments for the world number one.

"I knew it was going to be a bloody tough match out there," Hewitt said after firing down an ace to seal the win in three hours 34 minutes.

"I went out there with a Davis Cup mentality and just blocked it out."

Agassi, though, continued his dominant run.

In a rematch of last year's third-round encounter, also won by Agassi in straight sets, the American kept his opponent off balance and was in control throughout.

GOOD THING

Seeking his third title here, he has looked unbeatable through the first three rounds, dropping just 16 games.

"I feel good where my game is at. How can I complain?" he asked. The sixth seed will face unseeded compatriot Jan-Michael Gambill after he clattered Argentine 21st seed Gaston Gaudio 6-0, 6-2, 6-0.

Gambill knows the size of the task ahead.

"There's nobody on the tour I have more respect for on or off the court," he said. "He's a great guy and it's going to be a tough match. I am excited about it."

Venus, seeded second this year behind younger sister Serena, stayed on track for a third successive Open crown with a ruthless victory.

"It seemed to go a little quickly...but I guess that's a nice thing," she said.

"Still a long way, the final... but it's getting closer. That's a good thing."

While Serena won the French Open in June and deposed Venus at Wimbledon a month later, at least in New York, Venus still rules.

The American has conceded just six games in three matches at Flushing Meadows and is looking in sparkling form. She meets compatriot Chanda Rubin next.

Rubin, seeded 14, finessed her way past U.S. doubles specialist Lisa Raymond with a tight 7-6, 6-4 win.

Capriati, the third seed, produced 17 winners and broke 30th seed Shaughnessy's serve four times in their match.

"I felt I played so well I didn't let her play her game," Capriati said. "I was pretty consistent, served great, and came in on some good shots. I moved well considering the weather and everything."

The Australian Open champion has conceded just 10 games in three matches this week as she chases her second major of the year.

"It's only going to get tougher," Capriati said. "If I can just keep going the same way, still play the tennis I'm playing, I should be all right."

Her fourth-round opponent will be unseeded fellow American Amy Frazier, who rallied past 16th-seeded Bulgarian Magdalena Maleeva 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

BLUSTERY DAY

Far less convincing than Capriati and Venus on a blustery day six were Monica Seles and Kim Clijsters.

Sixth seed Seles was in the wars again as she fought off a spirited challenge by South Korea's Cho Yoon-Jeong to reach the fourth round 6-1, 5-7, 6-3.

"She was playing really well and I lost my concentration and then the second set," said Seles, champion here in 1991 and 1992.

"She was running down a lot of balls and I had to work really hard. I'll have to play a lot better if I am going to advance much further."

That much is certain as she meets ninth seed Martina Hingis next.

Hingis, back in action after ankle surgery kept her out of the French Open and Wimbledon, eliminated South African Amanda Coetzer 6-3, 6-4.

Seventh seed Clijsters recovered from a nightmare start to oust dynamic Russian Vera Zvonareva 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.

The Belgian, Hewitt's girlfriend, was flattened in the opening set by some impressive power hitting and canny court-craft from the Russian.

But she gradually wrestled control from the 17-year-old to book a clash against 10th seed Amelie Mauresmo of France, who beat Switzerland's Patty Schnyder 6-1, 6-4.

In the men's draw, 22nd seed Marcelo Rios of Chile retired in his third-round match with right knee tendinitis, giving 14th seed Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic an easy passage into round four and a clash with Hewitt.

Wayne Ferreira of South Africa beat Spain's Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 to set up a meeting with 20th seed Younes El Aynaoui. The Moroccan beat another Spaniard, Fernando Vicente, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.