Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt launched his American hardcourt season by defeating Donald Young 7-5, 6-2 in the first round of the $1.4 million Washington Classic on Monday.

Hewitt, playing for the first time since reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals, broke Young’s serve five times in a row and six times overall to overwhelm the 20-year-old American.

Despite the cozy straight-sets victory, Hewitt had trouble shaking off the rust. He landed just 39 percent of his first serves and was broken three times by the 20-year-old Young, formerly the world’s top-ranked junior.

“I didn’t serve my best tonight,” said the 42nd ranked Hewitt. “It’s always hard playing your first match after a few weeks off. The ball was bouncing pretty high out there.

“It’s a lot different than playing on the grass over the last month in England. It was nice to get through in straight sets.”

Young, ranked 162nd, was successful on just 36 percent of his first serves.

“He’s very talented and he just hasn’t fulfilled his potential just yet,” Hewitt said after his first meeting with the lefthander. “It’s a big step up from juniors to seniors.”

“He’s lightning quick, gets to a lot of balls, and is starting to get a bigger game out there. He’s just not playing the big points very well just yet.”

The 28-year-old Hewitt, tournament champion in 2004 but unseeded this year, will play 15th seed Dudi Sela of Israel in the second round.

In other matches, Russian Mikhail Youzhny needed one hour and 40 minutes to oust American Robert Kendrick 7-5, 3-6, 6-1, while Philipp Petzschner of Germany beat Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Top seed and three-times former champion Andy Roddick will play his opening match on Wednesday against either Benjamin Becker of Germany or American Robby Ginepri.