Maria Sharapova dazzled in her US Open performance last night. The 2006 champion, bedecked in a crystal-studded red dress, downed Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-0, 6-1 in only 50 minutes. The tennis ace, who has struggled with a shoulder injury this year, was all confidence in her custom-made togs, smashing 30 winners to Vinci's 3 and advancing easily to the Open's second round.
Heavy-hitters Martina Hingis and Svetlana Kuznetsova also progressed smoothly. Kuznetsova defeated the Czech Republic's Klara Zakopalova 6-2, 6-3, and Hingis bested Swiss Mathilde Johansson 6-0, 6-3. In other action, Julia Vakulenko earned a rare upset over ninth-seed Daniella Hantuchova 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. (More Maria Sharapova stories.)