Lleyton Hewitt survived a minor injury scare to storm into the second round of the US Open, beating American Amer Delic.

Hewitt crushed American Amer Delic 6-2 6-4 6-2 in just one hour and 31 minutes and next faces either Argentine Agustin Calleri or Italy's Andreas Seppi on Thursday for a place in the last 32.

Australia's 16th seed could hardly have been more dominant.

He made just 13 unforced errors and did not face a single break point in three sets of tennis, while breaking Delic's serve five times.

Even more encouragingly, Hewitt landed 64 per cent of his first deliveries, a huge improvement on the 26-year-old's recent serving displays.

While Hewitt has enjoyed a great American hardcourt campaign with his only two defeats in nine matches this month coming at the hands of world No.1 Roger Federer, serving has been his Achilles heel.

Not today, though.

"I tried to mix myself up, to use it smartly, work the angles, not let him get into a rhythm out there where he feels like he can just go for it, lash out on a few," he said.

"(If) a few come off, then you're down breakpoints all of a sudden.

"I felt like I mixed it up well. I hit some good kick serves which opened up the forehand court. I felt like I was playing on my terms."

A seven-times quarter-finalist and two-times finalist, Hewitt is again hoping to go deep into the tournament and - keen not to waste too much energy in round one - said he was determined not to give Delic a sniff.

"He's a dangerous player. If you let him dictate play, that's when he plays his best tennis," Hewitt said.

"He's very free-flowing out there, but you've got to try to keep him moving around and off balance as much as possible. I felt like today I was able to do that."

A downcast Delic conceded Hewitt, the 2001 champion and former world No.1, had him beat virtually before the coin toss.

"I can't go streaking, I guess, against guys out there like Hewitt," Delic said.

"It's tough. The guy does not give you absolutely anything.

"I mean, I've never played him before. I've seen him play a million times on TV. He was always one of those guys that you look in the draw, 'God, I really don't want to be out there with him playing three out of five'.

"It kind of showed today."

Hewitt's one-sided victory continued his fine record of never having lost in the first round in nine visits to Flushing Meadows.

His only concern came at 2-2 in the second set when he feared he'd hyper-extended his knee stretching for a forehand.

"I wasn't a hundred per cent after that for a couple of games," he said.

"It scared me a little bit."

But he quickly recovered to motor into the second round in a highly impressive performance.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP