Maria Sharapova started her bid for a second US Open title with a 6-4 6-0 first-round win over fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko. The 2006 champion trailed 4-2 in the first set but won the next 10 games on her way to victory in 90 minutes. In the men’s draw, world number one Novak Djokovic also eased through.

Djokovic outclassed Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman, taking just 98 minutes to beat the world number 79 6-1 6-2 6-4 and reach round two.
Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios came close to being disqualified after receiving three warnings for swearing.

Kyrgios, who shocked Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, beat 21st seed Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 7-6 (7-1).
But the 19-year-old received two code violations in the third set and then a third warning in the fourth, which saw him penalised a game.
Elsewhere, third seed Stanislas Wawrinka progressed in straight sets.

The Australian Open champion was pushed to two tie-breaks by Czech Jiri Vesely but came through 6-2 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-3).
Two-time US Open champion Venus Williams fought back from a set down to win 2-6 6-3 6-3 and end 43-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm’s US Open hopes.

Men’s ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is also through to the second round after a 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 win over Juan Monaco.
Arthur Ashe Stadium

S Halep (Rou) (2) beat D Collins (USA) 6-7 (2-7) 6-1 6-2
“After the first set I did very well,” said Halep, 22. “I played better than the first set. I started a little bit nervous, but it’s normal.”
V Williams (USA) (19) beat K Date-Krumm (Jpn) 2-6 6-3 6-3

There were 13 breaks of serve between Williams, the second oldest player in the women’s draw, and Date-Krumm, the oldest. “I was younger today, but when you step out on the court, I don’t think anybody thinks about age,” said Williams, 34. “If you’re out on this tour it means you deserve to be here.”

S Wawrinka (Swi) (3) beat J Vesely (Cze) 6-2 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-3)
M Sharapova (Rus) (5) beat M Kirilenko (Rus) 6-4 6-0

“We spent a lot of time in the juniors away from the courts practicing a lot together, competing against each other,” Sharapova said of her compatriot Kirilenko, who is also aged 27. “We certainly have a big history together. But when you go out on the court, of course you want to be the winner, you have to face that person as a competitor, not someone that you’ve known for years and developed a friendship with. It’s always a tricky balance, I guess.”

N Djokovic (Srb) (1) beat D Schwartzman (Arg) 6-1 6-2 6-4
“I didn’t have much time to think about tennis with all this happening,” said the newly-married Wimbledon champion, who has also just become a father for the first time. “The last three weeks actually, Toronto and Cincinnati, were a bit tough emotionally for me. I wasn’t finding my game. I wasn’t able to feel comfortable on the court. I probably was not mentally ready to still compete at a high level. But now it’s different. I feel emotionally recharged and ready to go.”

Louis Armstrong Stadium
A Radwanska (Pol) (4) beat S Fichman (Can) 6-1 6-0
“First match is always tricky, but I think everything was working my way – a pretty good start for me,” said Radwanska, who took just 47 minutes to overcome Fichman.

A Murray (Gbr) (8) beat R Haase (Ned) 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 1-6 7-5
S Stephens (USA) (21) beat A Beck (Ger) 6-0 6-3
M Raonic (Can) (5) beat T Daniel (Jpn) 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-1)

Raonic hit 20 aces in his victory over the Japanese qualifier, including the fastest serve of the day. That was a 140mph second serve, which he says he has done before. “Plenty of times, yeah. I just have freedom to go for it and I hit it like a first serve.”

Grandstand
A Kerber (Ger) (6) beat K Pervak (Rus) 6-2 6-3 7-5
J Tsonga (Fra) (9) beat J Monaco (Arg) 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-1

“The first round of a Grand Slam is always difficult just because you come from another tournament, from different conditions,” Tsonga said afterwards. “Every tournament is different. Every time when you have to change it takes time to play your best tennis on the surface.”
B Kavcic (Slo) beat D Young (USA) 7-5 6-4 6-4
C Wozniacki (Den) (10) beat M Rybarikova (Svk) 6-1 3-6 2-0 retired — BBC Sport

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