News all bad for France
News all bad for France 
From Allan Kelly in New York
Former Australian Captain August 31, 2007
SPAIN’S Fernando Verdasco underlined his potential with a straight-sets victory over France’s Gilles Simon in the second round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows today (AEST).
The 23-year-old from Madrid looked sharp and confident as he won through 6-0 6-4 6-3, in a quarter of the draw that also includes defending champion Roger Federer and last year’s beaten finalist, Andy Roddick.
French hopes in that section took a further blow with the announcement from No.13 seed Richard Gasquet that he would be unable to play his second-round tie with American teen Donald Young due to a sore throat and high temperature.
“I tried to practice but could not play,” said the 20-year-old Wimbledon semi-finalist.
“I had a fever last night and I am really disappointed because this is a very important tournament for me.”
Advancing to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time at the age of 18, former junior world No.1 Young said he is shocked and excited by his progress.
“I was really surprised because I saw him in the locker room. I thought he was OK,” he said.
In women’s second-round play, India’s Sania Mirza set up an intriguing third-round encounter between 20-year-olds with No.6 seed, Russia’s Anna Chakvetadze, to whom she has lost three times this year.
Mirza, the first Indian woman to play at the top level, needed three match points to see off the stubborn challenge of American doubles specialist Laura Granville, 6-3 7-5.
The red-hot Chakvetadze cruised past Australia veteran Nicole Pratt 6-3 6-4.
There were wins also for the upset 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova from Russia, who outlasted France’s Camille Pin 6-3 4-6 6-0, and for Israel’s Shahar Peer, the No.18 seed, who beat American Bethanie Mattek 6-2 6-1.
“I am not happy it went to a third set,” said Kuznetsova.
“I missed so many chances in the second set but I knew I was comfortable and could get it all together.
“From that moment I just turned it on. I don’t think I have come into the net as much as this.”
The two top American hopes in the men’s draw - Roddick and James Blake - play their second-round ties later today.
Agence France-Presse