Gauff kicks off US Open title defence in grand style

Coco Gauff has had an easy start to her US Open title defence, rolling to a 6-2 6-0 victory over France's Varvara Gracheva.

Gauff needed just over an hour, looking more like the player who won her first major title last year than the one who had dropped her past two matches before coming to New York.

She suffered early exits at tune-up tournaments in Cincinnati and Toronto, and there were early signs of trouble in New York as she had five double faults in the first set.

The 20-year-old had to fend off three break points to hold her serve in the second game, but the world No.3 found her footing from there, breaking her opponent's serve in the third and seventh games.

Gauff ploughed through the second set in just 27 minutes as she produced only five unforced errors and finished with 10 aces for the match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"I was just trying to enjoy the match," said Gauff, who set up a meeting with Germany's Tatjana Maria in the next round.

"I think today was the best tennis I've played in a while.

"It was definitely a lot of pressure, this tournament, but I'm just enjoying it."

Second seed Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion and one of the pre-tournament favourites, shone under the lights as she beat Australian Priscilla Hon 6-3 6-3.

Last year's runner-up arrived in New York fresh off her triumph in Cincinnati and is looking to become the first woman to capture the season's two hardcourt majors in the same year since Angelique Kerber in 2016.

"Even though I didn't play my best tennis I was fighting for every point," Sabalenka said.

"She played really aggressive, great tennis today. It wasn't easy facing her in the first round."

Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic gold medallist, rallied for a 4-6 6-4 6-2 victory over Amanda Anisimova.

Zheng began the grand slam season by reaching the final of the Australian Open. She had a difficult assignment to start the year's final major in Anisimova, an American who this month reached the final of a hard-court tournament in Montreal and returned to the top 50 of the WTA rankings.

But the No.7 seed solved Anisimova's power as the match went on to move into the second round as she turns her attention back to the slams after becoming China's first singles gold medallist at the Paris Games.

"... To come to the next tournament, I say, everything starts at zero," Zheng said.

"You are not anymore the Olympic champion. Just be humble and try to work, fight every single match, because if you don't fight, you have a big chance to lose."

Maria Sakkari, the No.9 seed from Greece, became the first seeded player eliminated when she stopped playing after losing the first set against China's Yafan Wang.

Sakkari, who also lost in the first round last year, received treatment on her shoulder in the first set.

Frenchwoman Clara Burel recovered from being blanked in the opening set to beat 2017 champion Sloane Stephens 0-6 7-5 7-5.

Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova and three-time US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka joined seeded players Madison Keys, Paula Badosa and Elina Svitolina in advancing in the women's draw.

Elsewhere, there were also opening-round wins for Americans Taylor Townsend and Peyton Stearns.

With AAP & Reuters.