Tennis: Roger Federer opened his bid for a fifth successive US Open title with a straightforward 6-3 6-0 6-3 triumph over Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez at the Billie Jean King Tennis Centre.
Federer has not won a Grand Slam this year, having lost in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon to Rafael Nadal, who subsequently ended the Swiss' four-and-a-half-year reign at the top of the world rankings.
But Federer, who last year won his 12th Grand Slam title with victory at Flushing Meadows to move within two of Pete Sampras' record, was at home on the Arthur Ashe Stadium hardcourt, defeating world number 118 Gonzalez in one hour 21 minutes.
Richard Gasquet's stay was a short one after he lost 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 5-7 7-5 6-2 in the first round to Tommy Haas.
Hoping to make a run at the year's final major after reaching the last 16 at Wimbledon, 12th seed Gasquet was his own worst enemy as he committed an astounding 64 unforced errors in becoming the highest seeded player to lose.
In a match which featured some high intensity, Marat Safin outlasted American Vincent Spadea 3-6 6-2 6-3 4-6 6-4.
The 2000 champion, Safin was visibly upset with the referee and threw his racket at one point in the match. At the the start of the fifth set, a tournament official also was summoned to calm down the Russian.
Number 13 seed Fernando Verdasco coasted into the second round with a 6-3 6-4 6-1 triumph over Igor Kunitsyn while the 11th seed from Spain, Fernando Gonzalez got past countryman Ivan Navarro 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7/5).
American Sam Querrey posted a mild upset in with a 6-3 6-1 6-2 triumph over 22nd seed Tomas Berdych.
Ranked 55th in the world, Querrey has failed to make it past the second round in his first two appearances at this hardcourt Grand Slam.
Querrey was outstanding against his Czech opponent, winning 88% (35-of-40) of his first serves.
It was a disappointing result for Berdych, who reached the fourth round here last year.
Number 14 seed Ivo Karlovic of Croatia booked a spot in the second round with a 7-5 6-1 6-4 triumph over Jan Minar.
In the women's section, Ana Ivanovic received an unexpected test at the start of the US Open on Tuesday, being pushed to three sets in the first round before emerging with a 6-1 4-6 6-4 victory over Russian Vera Dushevina.
Playing for the first time since pulling out of the Olympics with a thumb injury, the top seed looked as though she would cruise through to the next round after racing to a 5-0 lead and needing just 27 minutes to win the first set against the world's 57th-ranked player.
Even though Ivanovic eventually moved on, her play may be cause for concern at an event where she has never advanced past the fourth round.
"When I first went on the court, I was very excited and I started to play really well," said Ivanovic.
"Obviously the lack of practice showed a little bit later."
She will now play Julie Coin of France, who beat Casey Dellacqua 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4).
Serena Williams made light work of her first-round clash with Kateryna Bondarenko, winning 6-1 6-4.
The fourth seed, who was runner-up at Wimbledon earlier this summer after losing to sister Venus, needed just 56 minutes to sweep aside the Ukranian at the Arthur Ashe stadium.
Sister Venus opened her bid for a third title and a first in seven years with a 6-2 6-3 first-round victory over Australia's Samantha Stosur at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The seventh seed, who reached the semi-finals or better in her first six US Open appearances, winning in 2000 and 2001, was making her 10th appearance at Flushing Meadows and triumphed in one hour and 16 minutes.
Sixth-seeded Dinara Safina continued her outstanding summer with a 6-3 6-4 thrashing of Kristie Haerim Ahn.
There was an early upset as 11th-seeded Daniela Hantuchova endured a 6-4 6-2 defeat to Anna-Lena Groenefeld but ninth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska advanced to the second round with a 6-4 6-2 triumph over Yaroslava Shvedova.
Number 13 seed Agnes Szavay posted a 7-5 6-3 triumph over Gail Brodsky while 16th seed Flavia Pennetta and number 30 Ai Sugiyama also progressed.