Nadal clinches first-round win

Rafael Nadal made sure he kept things moving along as he negotiated the first hurdle at the US Open without too much difficulty.

The second-seeded Nadal methodically moved into the second round with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 triumph over Mark Philippoussis in the first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The two-time reigning French Open champion, Nadal broke Philippoussis once in each set. The 20-year-old lefthander saved all four of the Australian wild card's break chances.

The Nadal-Philippoussis match had been scheduled for Tuesday but never got under way as rain wreaked havoc at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Only nine of 64 scheduled matches began and none were completed, forcing the USTA to put 80 encounters on the docket Wednesday.

Luckily for fans and players alike, the weather merely was cloudy at the start of the tournament's third day, which should allow for some catching up.

After getting past the 1998 U.S. Open runner-up, Nadal awaits Peruvian Luis Horna, who also expedited matters with a 7-5 6-4 6-3 victory over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain.

Nadal has an apparently easy quarter of the draw, with the next two highest seeds being No.6 Tommy Robredo and No.11 David Ferrer, a pair of countrymen.

Women's top seed Amelie Mauresmo followed on Ashe and completed a 6-1 7-5 triumph over German qualifier Kristina Barrois by winning five straight games.

After easily winning the first set Tuesday, Mauresmo was behind in the second, 5-2, when play was suspended at 3:45pm.