Fresh faces topple favourites at US Open

NEW YORK, Sep 1 (Reuters) Fresh faces stole the spotlight at the US Open today with Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska leading the way with a shock upset of second-seeded holder Maria Sharapova.

The 18-year-old Radwanska, little more than a year after winning the French Open junior title, swept the last six games to oust the Russian world number two 6-4 1-6 6-2.

Agnes Szavay struck another blow for the youth movement, the 18-year-old Hungarian dismissing seventh-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-4 6-4 to book her place in the fourth round.

Szavay won the junior crown at Roland Garros the year before Radwanska.

''I was thinking that everybody is going to be against me because she's a star, she's a top player,'' Radwanska told reporters.

''But after I think it was different, everybody was surprised, somebody can beat the winner of last year.

''It was a great feeling.'' Radwanska gave Sharapova a sinking feeling, yet the 20-year-old Russian was full of praise for her opponent.

''A lot of girls in her position on a big stage, in a big stadium, against a top player sometimes get a little nervous,'' said Sharapova, who had lost just two games in her first two matches.

''She held on there and all the credit to her for winning the match.'' The victory will cost Radwanska the price of two expensive women's bags to make good a promise she made to her 16-year-old sister, Urszula, who is playing in the US Open junior tournament.

''I told my sister, if I will beat her (Sharapova), we will buy two Louis Vuitton bags, because they are so expensive,'' Radwanska said.

Radwanska and Szavay both broke through this season for their maiden victories on the WTA Tour. Radwanska won last month in Stockholm and Szavay captured her first crown the week before in Palermo.

''If somebody plays good juniors then that player has enough confidence to start the WTA Tour,'' said Szavay, who entered the Open ranked 31st, one notch below Radwanska.

Reuters BJR VP0352