Santoro has one abiding dream when he hangs up his racket: 'I'm going to change, and I want to be home. I want to see my friends; I want to spend more time with my daughter. I want to live, like normal life. But that's the question: What is a normal life?'

France's 13th seed Gael Monfils defeated countryman Jeremy Chardy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 to advance while Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay put out Australian Chris Guccione 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0.

Two-time women's champion Venus Williams, bothered with a knee injury that she will not discuss, managed a victory against Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 6-2.

Williams produced her best tennis in New York in 2000 and 2001 before the rise of her sister Serena.

But the 29-year-old still has her fighting spirit and is determined to not let physical problems get the better of her game.

'I don't talk about my injuries very much. I don't dwell on them,' Venus said. 'I just do my best.'

Seeds Vera Zvonareva (seventh), Victoria Azarenka (eighth) and number 10 Italian Flavia Pennetta joined Williams in the third round.

Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak handed two-time Grand Slam winner Amelie Mauresmo her earliest career defeat at the Open, 6-4, 6-0.

Wozniak, ranked 39th, was untouchable against an off-form Mauresmo, holder of 25 titles including the 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon trophies.

Kim Clijsters took her career comeback another step with an upset of 14th seed Marion Bartoli 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, while Russian Maria Kirilenko put out 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

American Vania King knocked out Australian 15th seed Samantha Stosur 7-5, 6-4.