Serena, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic are maintaining the status quo, while teenage sensation Coco Gauff electrified in her comeback.
Australian John Millman famously sent Roger Federer packing last year, but he was unable to produce another upset over Rafael Nadal, who defeated him ruthlessly, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Rafa also took time to offer Andy Murray support, who is competing in Nadalās hometown Challenger event in Mallorca.
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Novak Djokovic is playing with full confidence, having defeated 26-year-old Roberto CarballƩs Baena in straight sets on Monday, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4. He looks poised to defend his title, but next he faces another 26-year-old, Juan Ignacio Londero, the surprise ouster of the Sam Querrey match.
Roger Federer looked the rustiest of the three, taking one set to find his groove, but ultimately prevailing over Indiaās Sumit Nagal, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. Itās been 11 years since he won at Flushing Meadows, and perhaps it will take some time to shake off the painful loss in the Wimbledon final.
Serenaās match against non-rival Maria Sharapova probably looked more intriguing on paper than the event that transpired, with the American dispatching her competitor 6-1, 6-1. The back issues that plagued the 23-time slam champion seem to be a thing of the past. She will face 17-year-old compatriot Caty McNally later today.
Neighbors up North doing just fine
Vasek Pospisilāon the heels of an injury comebackāproduced one of the early upsets by ousting NextGen phenomenon Karen Khachanov, in a hard-fought five setter, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Pospisil, whoās made more headlines as a vocal member of the ATP Council, clocked in the surprise win, an excellent signal of his return to the sport.
āIāve been working really hard. I did a ton of fitness before I kind of made my comeback just to make sure that I was strong. But, of course, match play is a different kind of beast,ā Pospisil said, according to the ATP.
In another battle of Canadians, two NextGen stars, Denis Shapovalov had an easier time defeating rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4, adding to his already stellar year.
Nextgen names fall, but Alexander Zverev still standing
Thereās been a lot of criticism of Alexander Zverevās personal woes and dip in form this year, but with Top 10 seeds Roberto Bautista Agut, Khachanov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and most shockingly, Dominic Thiem going out, 22-year-old Zverev can rest assured that his emergence into the next round is keeping the younger generation flame alive. However, the fact that he had to go five setters alreadyāa common malady for the Germanāis another example of his inability to dictate play quicker, defeating Delray Beach titlist Radu Albot, 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2.
Next up for him is a marquee match with another NextGen luminary, Frances Tiafoe, who defeated Ivo Karlovic, who retired, 6-2, 6-3, 1-2.
French Open finalist and world No. 4 Dominic Thiem is continuing his grand slam slump, bowing out of the first round at the US Open after doing the same at Wimbledon, losing to Italian slayer Thomas Fabbianoāwho is having a terrific yearā6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Tsitsipas succumbed to cramps, but put on a thrilling fight, ultimately losing to youngster Andrey Rublev, who is on a hot streak since making the quarters at Winston-Salem and Cincinnati, in three tense hours, 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 7-5.
Americans through, Kyrgios sticking to playing tennis
Americans John Isner and Tennys Sandgren made use of the home-court advantage. Isnerāwho has baby No. 2 on the wayāwon his match over Spainās Guillermo GarcĆa-LĆ³pez, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Sandgren, however, had to go the distance to defeat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in a come-from-behind victory, 1-6, 6-7(2), 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-5. Up next is Pospisil.
The last match of the evening was Nick Kyrgios. We werenāt sure which version of the mercurial player would show up. Thankfully, the efficient, disciplined one did, sending American Steve Johnson packing, 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-4. Nick being Nick, he did manage to stir up a little umpire controversy and lobbed an insult at the ATP afterwards.
Cocoās legend continues
On the womenās side, āCocoā Gauff once again enthralled the crowd by coming back from being down a set and a break, playing with heart and belief, and ultimately battling for the win into the second round over another teenager, Anastasia Potapova, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Former slam champs out
Gauffās compatriot, Alison Riskeācapping off her terrific yearāousted two-time slam winner GarbiƱe Muguruza, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3. She follows three-time slam winner Angelique Kerber, who was defeated by Kristina Mladenovic on Monday, 7-5, 0-6, 6-4.
American WTA contenders
While former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens disappointed by going out in the first round, Kristie Ahn, Taylor Townsend, Danielle Collins, Francesca Di Lorenzo, Lauren Davis, and Venus Williams are keeping patriotic hope alive.
Additionally, Madison Keysāon the cusp of her incredible victory in Cincinnatiāand Sonia Kenin are true contenders for the last major of the year.
Shaky starts
Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Naomi Osaka, and Ashleigh Barty each survived one-set-down scares, but rallied to win their matches.
Canadaās Bianca Andreescu, however, is looking stronger than ever, winning in straight sets. I wouldnāt be surprised if the electrifying WTA star makes the final. Itās been that kind of breakthrough year for the 19-year-old.
Round two matches resume at the U.S. Open on Wednesday, with coverage provided by ESPN. Check out my US open predictions on Just End the Suffering podcast here.