New York: The Russian contingent of potential US Open champions nearly lost its kingpin when top seed Dinara Safina had to dig out of a third-set quandary to avoid the humiliation of a first-round exit on Tuesday.
Safina, the world's top-ranked player, produced 48 unforced errors and 11 double faults before defeating Australian Olivia Rogowska 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 35 agonising minutes.
"I didn't break any racket and I didn't get a warning so that's already a positive," said Safina, a triple Grand Slam finalist whose volatile temperament is well documented.
While Safina escaped and set up a second-round encounter with Germany's Kristina Barrois, Russians Maria Sharapova Svetlana Kuznetsova, Elena Dementieva advanced easily.
On the men's side, 2007 finalist Novak Djokovic, the fourth seed, advanced to the second round along with the seventh seed, hard-hitting Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Safina's near-flameout allowed her to avoid the dubious distinction of becoming the first top-seeded woman to lose in the opening round of the US Open.
The explosive Muscovite was down 0-3, 15-40 in the final set before achieving a Houdini-like escape on a sun-drenched Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"I will never give up," said Safina, still looking for her first Grand Slam triumph. "So it doesn't matter how I'll play, but I will run and I will stay there forever.
"I will do everything to win the match."
She certainly did everything possible to win but it was hard to overlook the 65 unforced errors and 13 double-faults from her little-known opponent across the net.
Error fiesta
The match was a festival of errors, each player begging the other to take command. When Rogowska took control in the final set, her nerves got the best of her.
"I'm disappointed that I was in a winning position and I let it go," said Rogowska, an 18-year-old wildcard from Melbourne ranked 167th.
"But it's a great learning experience. I'm getting confidence that I can match it up to the No. 1 player in the world.
"Have to get more mentally tougher, and hopefully not let it slip again next time."
Sixth seed and 2004 winner Kuznetsova stomped Julia Goerges of Germany 6-3, 6-2, while Maria Sharapova, the 2006 champion, blitzed Bulgaria's Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3, 6-0. Another Russian threat, 2004 finalist Dementieva, routed Frenchwoman Camille Pin 6-1, 6-2 in 59 minutes.
Djokovic had an easy time with Ivan Ljubicic, blasting nine aces to ease past the Croat 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.
The fans at Flushing Meadows were gracious to Djokovic, who was booed loudly a year ago after he slammed Andy Roddick during a courtside interview.
"What happened last year was like a fight with a girlfriend," he said. "These things happen. It was something that everybody can learn from it.
"I always felt like at home here. I played so well last three years. I see no reason for me thinking about something that happened already.
"So today was great. I just hope that the fans will behave nice in the next rounds."
Tsonga beat American Chase Buchanan 6-0, 6-2, 6-1 to set up a second-round match against Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, who beat Italy's Fabio Fognini 7-5, 7-6, 6-4.
Seventh-seeded Tsonga is hoping for a breakthrough result in New York and a chance to enter the conversation as a legitimate Grand Slam title contender.
"I'm here to win and to go to the next step," said the strapping 24-year-old. "The next step for me is to be in the five best players in the world."
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