Safina, Williams taking aim at Ivanovic's No. 1 ranking

NEW YORK (AFP) - Top seed Ana Ivanovic struggled but held on to win her opening match, while a pair of wannabe number ones advanced in straights sets during day two of the US Open.

World No. 1 Ivanovic, who captured the French Open earlier this year for her first Grand Slam title, didn't make the opening statement she had planned on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old Serbian survived a scare by beating Vera Dushevina 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre.

"Obviously my lack of practice showed a little," Ivanovic said. "This match is going to help me because it was so challenging.

"I was missing a lot of match practice so I got a tough one today."

Olympic silver medallist Dinara Safina and Serena Williams won their first round matches in straight sets on Tuesday.

Both have a chance at supplanting Ivanovic as the top ranked WTA player if they reach the finals in the 20.6 million dollar event.

On the men's side of the draw, Roger Federer began his quest for his fifth consecutive US Open title in stunning fashion with a dominating 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 win over Maximo Gonzalez.