Top-seeded world No 1 Novak Djokovic raced into the second round of the US Open with a 6-1 6-1 6-1 demolition of Joao Souza of Brazil today's first day session at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Djokovic had to wait in the wings for Venus Williams to complete a two-hour, 40-minute win at Ashe, but once the Serb hit the court he played as if he had a taxi meter running outside the National Tennis Center.
Ones were wild for Djokovic, who won each set 6-1 in a one hour 11 minute romp to victory for the reigning Australian and Wimbledon champion.
"There's something I love about number one, for sure," Djokovic told the crowd in an oncourt interview.
Djokovic will next meet either Canadian Vasek Pospisil or Andreas Haider-Maurer of Austria.
Two-times winner Venus Williams was tested by unseeded Puerto Rican Monica Puig but prevailed in three sets on Monday to give the Williams family a positive start at the tournament.
Williams, seeded 23rd, battled to a 6-4 6-7(7) 6-3 victory over her gritty 21-year-old opponent in a two-hour 40-minute contest at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The match finished hours before younger sister Serena was set to begin her quest to complete the first calendar sweep of the four grand slams in 27 years when she faces Russia's Vitalia Diatchenko in the tournament's opening match under the lights.
Venus squandered three match points in the second-set tiebreaker as 85th-ranked Puig rallied from 6-3 down to win six of the last seven points to level the match at one set apiece.
Venus, at 35 the oldest player in the women's draw, also failed to close the deal when serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set.
"I give so much credit to my opponent," said Venus, who blasted home 18 aces and powered in 48 winners, cranking her serves up to 199kmh.
"It seemed like every time I got close, she came up with unbelievable shots.
"She played so well from behind which is a great attribute, so great things for her coming."
It was a gutsy performance by Puig on the US Tennis Center's main stage, especially considering the gap in their experience.
Venus carried in a 64-13 US Open record into the match, with career earnings of over $31 million ($NZ48 million) , while Puig was 1-2 in her previous two appearances in the main draw at Flushing Meadows with career earnings of just over $1 million ($NZ1.5 million).
Earlier in the day men's fourth seed Kei Nishikori fell in his first-round match against Frenchman Benoit Paire.
On the women's side, former world No 1 Ana Ivanovic is out after being upset by Dominika Cibulkova in the tournament's first match.
