Six-time champion Serena Williams (50/1 US Open outright) treated a packed-out Arthur Ashe Stadium to a straight-sets victory over Danka Kovinic in the US Open first round on Monday night, prolonging her singles career for one more match at least.
The American, who opened the first night session of the tournament in front of a 23,000-strong crowd featuring the likes of Mike Tyson and Bill Clinton, struggled for periods of the first set, before finding momentum on her first serve to overcome her Montenegrin opponent 6-3, 6-3.
World number 80 Kovinic, who impressed by reaching the third round of the French Open this year before collapsing into a run of five straight defeats ahead of Monday's clash, tested the 23-time Grand Slam champion on occasion and was a point away from a 4-2 lead in the first set, before William's resurgence ended her hopes of advancement.
Williams' next encounter sees her face an altogether more difficult task on Wednesday in the form of second-ranked Anett Kontaveit, who eased past Romania's Jacqueline Cristian 6-0, 6-3 (Serena Williams 6/3, Anett Kontaveit 8/15 - Match Result).
Meanwhile, British number two Harriet Dart recorded her first career win over a top-10 opponent by beating ninth-ranked Daria Kasatkina in a scintillating three-setter. After taking the first set 10-8 in a tie-break, the Londoner lost the second 6-1 in less than half an hour, before rallying to take the decider 6-3.
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The world number 88 will take on Dalma Galfi - number 91 - in the next round (Dalma Galfi 6/5, Harriet Dart 4/6 - Match Result).
In the men's draw, Andy Murray navigated comfortably past Argentine 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo, with a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 victory taking the 2012 winner into a match-up with 20-year-old American Emilio Nava, ranked 203rd (Andy Murray 8/1 - Quarter 2).
But the main story of the day was the elimination of fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who saved eight match points before finally falling to unheralded Daniel Elahi Galan in four sets.
The Greek - runner-up at last year's French Open and one of the front-runners for the title at Flushing Meadows - won just one of the opening thirteen games as the Colombian, playing his first-ever main draw match at the event, came through 6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.
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