Tennis-Open-Sharapova overpowers Loit to advance

NEW YORK, Sep 1 (Reuters) Third-seeded Maria Sharapova pulverised French veteran Emilie Loit of France 6-0 6-1 to cruise into the third round of the US Open.

The 19-year-old Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion and an Open semi-finalist last year, took only 52 minutes to dispatch the 27-year-old Loit, who seemed to have no weapons to threaten the Russian.

Loit was credited with just one winner in the second-round match, coming on a forehand that crawled over the netcord to save a match point in the final game.

The 67th-ranked Loit was one of the last players to leave the tennis center on Wednesday night after staying late to finish her third-set tiebreaker against compatriot Camille Pin.

She looked lost from the start against Sharapova, who made only two unforced errors in the opening set.

The one sour note for Sharapova was from the service line as she matched the seven aces she registered with seven double faults, including five in the only game she lost after winning the first 10 games of the match.

''I hit three aces and go up 40-love in that game,'' Sharapova explained.

''Then I try to hit a second serve ace and then I missed another first serve and I just started thinking, and then I made another double fault.

''But, you know, you live and learn.'' Sharapova will next meet compatriot Elena Likhovtseva, the 32nd seed, who beat Australian Nicole Pratt yesterday to advance.

The Russian teenager said she felt fit and confident, a combination she said was key to making a grand slam title run.

''I haven't really come into a tournament feeling, until now, feeling great,'' Sharapova said.

''I've either had an injury coming in or I haven't had enough matches. This time I really feel like I'm coming in with confidence.

''I did play a lot of matches a couple of weeks ago. I feel healthy. I've realised, even though I haven't had a long career, that being healthy is probably the most important thing.'' Reuters SRS VP0540