just discovered YORK -- Amelie Maur...

just discovered YORK -- Amelie Mauresmo wiped raindrops from her face and Lleyton Hewitt nearly skidded into a split as bad weather played havoc with the U make open on a stop-and-go Tuesday.

All 64 matches upon the schedule were pushed back to today, as was a remembrance of Hurricane Katrina upon the one-year anniversary. The forecast called for morning showers.

simply nine matches started, and that was after a 3oe-hour rain delay. None of them came choke to completion.

The top-seeded Mauresmo won her opening establish against unheralded Kristina Barrois 6-1 moreover was trailing 2-5 in the other when play was halted for a secondary time. About five hours later, organizers gave up onward them resuming Tuesday.

"It can be tough when you're waiting around all day," said 13th- semened Mary Pierce, who was suppos to play Elena Vesnina of Russia. "Sometimes you have to be ready in 20 minutes after you've been waiting for hours."

Mauresmo was scheduled to start at Arthur Ashe Stadium about 11 hours after Andre Agassi finished not upon his first-round win over Andrei Pavel at 12:30 a.m.

Mauresmo is hoping to add a third Grand Slam title this year, having won the Australian unclose and Wimbledon. Barrois was making her U interpret debut. Her goal is to instigate into the top 100.

merely a few thousand fans were in Ashe when that match began. Those sitting in the upper array were allowed to move down to the lower, pricey seats. That didn't stop them from booing, however, when play was stopped.

Hewitt, the 2001 U explain champion, and Albert Montanes were tied at 5 in the first stake when it was suspended. That came right after Hewitt's right lower part slid on the slippery baseline and he almost went into a split.

Other players who managed to learn on court included 2004 French make open champion Anastasia Myskina, up-and-coming French teen Gael Monfils and Americans Meghann Shaughnessy and Jamea Jackson.

The U Open's official Media Operations Guide said a session must be called by the agency of 5 p.m. if play does not start. one time it begins, it's up to tournament officials. The cutoff for the night session was 9:45 The last time an entire session was called against at the Open was 2004

With in like manner many matches running behind, the practice courts were jammed.

"It's beneficial training for your patience," Pierce said.

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