After a tougher-than-expected first-round match, Jennifer Capriati had a better-than-could-be-hoped-for second-rounder, a win so thorough that she proclaimed afterward that she’s playing well enough to make a run deep into next week.

Capriati dispatched Magui Serna 6-0, 6-2 at Ashe Stadium, a 52-minute beating so complete the TV announcers professed pity for the outmatched Spaniard, begging Capriati to double-fault, spray a shot or show some other form of mercy on her foe. It didn’t happen.

“I think I’m playing good enough [to win]. I’m a perfectionist, but realistically I’m playing good enough,” said the No. 8 seed Capriati, who has 14 Tour singles titles and three Grand Slam wins but has never reached a U.S. Open final.

“I don’t want to go three sets. I want to come out and play as good as I can, and mentally – for the other players – not let them see that I’m vulnerable. Tonight, I had a good rhythm out there.”

Good was an understatement. After allowing Serna just 10 points in the first set, the only question was whether the lefty would take a single game off her former doubles partner. When Serna won the third game of the second set, she wanly raised her arms in wry celebration.

Serna has a plethora of backhand shots, but Capriati was ready for all her tricky drop-shots and chips. Capriati’s serve was great and she hit brilliant backhand after brilliant backhand, winning match point on a running, two-handed backhand passing shot right on the line.

While Capriati’s advancement is hardly a surprise, her dominance was noteworthy. She pulled out of the Olympics with hamstring woes that cost her much of the summer – and she’s always been at her best when she’s playing a lot of matches.

Her rust showed Monday, when she looked out of sync in her three-set win over Denisa Chladkova. But her game was pristine as she advanced to a third-round matchup with Russian Vera Douchevina, who beat Marion Bartoli in three sets.