Former US Open champions Sam Stosur became the biggest high-profile casualty of the US Open first round on Day 2, as Roger Federer, who has been seeded career-low seventh since 2002, saw off Grega Zemlja of Slovakia.
17-time Grand Slam champion Federer hit 12 aces and 35 winners in beating Zemlja 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 in 93 minutes at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
In the other matches which took place at the same stadium, world number one Novak Djokovic beat Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
Belarusian, Victoria Azarenka cruised past Dinah Pfizenamaier of Germany 6-0, 6-0.
Dane, Caroline Wozniacki beat China’s Ying-Yang Duan 6-2, 7-5, while Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic overcame Japan’s Misaki Doi 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
Djokovic produced 10 aces and 28 winners on his way to outclassing 112th seed Berankis as the three-time US Open champion look to add to his Grand Slam hauls at Flushing Meadows.
“I managed to make a lot of breaks at the beginning and take over control,” the top seed said.
“That’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to play every point like it’s match point and I’m happy with the performance.”
At the Louis Armstrong Stadium, 11th seed Stosur, who won the 2011 US Open, was stunned by a 17-year-old qualifier Victoria Duval.
Stosur led by a set and 4-2 but the teenager came through 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. She made 56 unforced errors to her opponent’s 35.
Ranked 296th in the world, Duval’s only previous Grand Slam experience came as a wildcard at the 2012 US Open, where she lost to Kim Clijster in the first round, and she came through qualifying to reach the main draw this time round.
“I know she didn’t play her best today, and she is the best I’ve played in my career, so I’m really excited,” said Duval.
In the other matches played at the same stadium, Canadian, Milos Raonic (10th seed) beat Thomas Fabbiano of Italy 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) 6-3.
Sara Errani of Italy recorded the day’s second ‘double bagel’ against Olivia Ragowska of Australia.
At the Grandstand, former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia beat Anna Tatishvili of Georgia 6-2,6-0.
American, Christina McHale beat Julia Goerges of Germany 6-4, 6-3.
America’s number one and 13th seed John Isner, hit 16 aces and had an average first serve speed of 128mph on his way to recording a first round 6-0, 6-2, 6-3, victory over Filippo Volandri of Italy.
Czech Republic’s fifth seed, Tomas Berdych, beat Paolo Lorenzi of Italy 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.
At the Outside Courts, Great Britain’s 76th seed Heather Watson fell 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, to Romania’s 21st seed Simona Halep on Court 11.
Watson was inches closer to victory at 6-4, 4-4, 40-0 but dropped five points in a row and the next four games to lose to Halep, who increased her unbeaten run to six matches.
“I knew she wouldn’t give it to me and she didn’t make first serves on any of those game points,” said Watson.
Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina beat Poland’s 14th seed Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
Joao Sousa of Portugal overcame Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
