Halep, Berdych Easy Winners at U.S. Open

French Open runner-up Simona Halep, the No. 2 seed, was an easy winner at the U.S. Open Wednesday but fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and American Sloane Stephens were both eliminated in the second round. Peng Shuai upset Radwanska in straight sets while Johanna Larson rallied to beat the 21st-seeded Stephens in three sets.

Former champion Maria Sharapova shook off a first-set loss to dispatch Alexandra Dulgheru 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 at Ashe Stadium and two-time titlist Venus Williams cruised to a 6-1, 6-4 decision over Timea Bacsinszky. No. 10 seed Caroline Wozniacki, who reached the title match here in 2009, easily moved on to the third round via a 6-3, 6-4 decision over Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

                                    
On the men's side, No. 6 seed Tomas Berdych was an easy opening-round winner on a hot Wednesday. The former Wimbledon runner-up blitzed 2001 U.S. Open champion Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 at Ashe Stadium. Meanwhile, 14th-seeded Marin Cilic was leading former Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 3-1  when the  Cypriot retired. Later, Australian Open champ Stan Wawrinka was a second-round winner.

Wawrinka, the No. 3 seed, defeated Brazilian left-hander Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1) at Ashe Stadium. The 29-year-old Wawrinka, this year's Australian Open champion, is through to the third round here for the fourth time in the past five years. Up next for Wawrinka, who is from Switzerland, is Blaz  Kavcic of Slovenia, who eliminated 30th- seeded Jeremy Chardy of France 6-2, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.