Olympic champion Nicolas Massu continued his golden run with a 6-4 6-0 6-2 victory over Argentine Jose Acasuso in the U.S. Open first round on Tuesday.
The 10th-seeded Chilean, who won both singles and doubles in Athens, looked high on confidence as he outplayed the world No. 79 in just under two hours, setting up a meeting with Armenian Sargis Sargsian.
"It's difficult to keep my focus and concentrate on the tournament," Massu, who claimed the first two gold medals in Chile's Olympic history, told a news conference.
"A lot of players, coaches and people in tennis have been congratulating me, saying they are happy I won a very good tournament, the Olympic Games."
Acasuso had not won a match in three previous visits to the U.S. Open, and once Massu had taken the first set, the writing was on the wall.
The Chilean won 11 of the next 12 games as he romped through the second and third sets to cruise into the second round.
Until arriving in Athens, Massu had not won a hardcourt match in seven attempts in 2004, but he stormed through the draw before beating American Mardy Fish in an epic final to win the gold medal.
Massu had already teamed up with Fernando Gonzalez to win the men's doubles for Chile's first ever gold medal.
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