China's Li Na hits a return to Lindsay Davenport of US during their match at the US. Open in Flushing Meadows, New York, August 30, 2005.

American world number one Lindsay Davenport carved out a 6-4 6-4 victory over hard-hitting Li Na of China to reach the second round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday.

Coming off victory at last week's New Haven Open, the second-seeded Davenport was not at her sharpest against 23-year-old Li, whose deep groundstrokes kept the American at bay and she staved off three match points before succumbing.

Davenport, the 1998 U.S. Open champion and runner-up at this year's Australian Open and Wimbledon, finally prevailed with an ace and two more service winners after Li fought back to earn a break point in the last game.

Davenport, 29, will next play either Pauline Parmentier of France or Antonella Serra Zanetti of Italy. 

(Agencies)