The 2022 US Open got underway with first-round action in the top half of the men's draw at Flushing Meadows.
Defending champion Daniil Medvedev breezed past Stefan Kozlov while Casper Ruud, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Nick Kyrgios were among the other seeded winners.
Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and tenth seed Taylor Fritz were the highest seeds to exit at the hands of Daniel Galan and Brandon Holt, respectively.
Medvedev, who defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets to win his first major title last year, had no issues in brushing aside Kozlov 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 to open play on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"I am pleased to win. Not easy conditions. Hot and humid here", said the Russian, who is 21-4 lifetime in New York. "I was sweating a lot but I thought there were some good points.
"I managed to be pretty solid and I thought the serve was key today. I am happy to go through to the second round."
Ruud comfortably moved past Brit Kyle Edmund with the fifth seed scoring a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 victory while sixth seed Auger-Aliassime got past Swiss qualifier Alexander Ritschard 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
"There were some good and very positive things in the match, but I also know I could play better. There's room for improvement", said the Canadian, a semifinalist last year.
"But at the end of the day, the most important thing is I got through, finishing well. That puts me in a good place. I'm looking forward to the second round and let's see how it goes."
13th seed Matteo Berrettini, a semifinalist in 2019, began his quest for a maiden major title with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win over qualifier Nicolas Jarry, firing off 26 winners in the one hour, 58 minute contest.
Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios also reached round two as he knocked off his good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) to win his 200th tour-level match in two hours, one minute.
"Probably one of the most uncomfortable matches i've played in my career", he said. "I feel like we had a game plan. We know our games so well.
"To play one of my best friends after Serena's last possible match, with a record-breaking attendance, it's insane. A night i'm never going to forget. My 200th win as well. A couple of accolades. It was good."
Other seeded results
Elsewhere, 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta defeated 2020 champion Dominic Thiem 7-5, 6-1, 5-7, 6-3, 18th seed Alex de Minaur had no problems dispatching Filip Krajinovic 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 and 21st seed Botic van de Zandschulp survived against qualifier Tomas Machac 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.
Galan shocks Tsitsipas, Murray upsets Cerundolo, Wu makes history
Colombian Galan needed nine match points to oust Tsitsipas the world number 94 hit 44 winners in the 6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory.
"Definitely one of the best moments of my career", he said. "Definitely the best match of my career, not only because of the circumstances, also the opponent. I'm really happy. I'm really happy I went through this match well."
Murray looked sharp in defeating 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours, 41 minutes.
"It was very tricky conditions today", he said. "Very humid and hot. I am very happy with the way I got through that one, it was not easy. He has had a brilliant year and I knew I had to play well in the important moments and I did."
Yibing Wu became the first Chinese man in the Open era to win a Grand Slam singles match with a dominant 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 victory over 31st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili.
"It's happy and exciting but still more matches to come", he said. "I just tried to make all the balls and stay in the game, not thinking about winning or losing. That's why I didn't show much emotions. I felt pretty calm."
American results
The home winners included 29th seed Tommy Paul, who needed five sets to escape Roberto Carballes Baena 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-0, 7-5, J.J. Wolf, who stunned 16th seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, wild card Emiliano Nava, who needed five sets to defeat John Millman 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-1 and Sebastian Korda, a 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-1 winner over Facundo Bagnis.
Wolf, who reached the third round on his debut in 2020, hit 14 aces and won 50 of 57 first-serve points in dominating Bautista Agut.
Ben Shelton, who just turned pro last week, fell to qualifier Nuno Borges 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-7(8), 6-3, Denis Kudla won the first set against 17th seed Karen Khachanov, but the Russian came back to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 while 30th seed Maxime Cressy retired trailing Marton Fucsovics 5-7, 7-6 (4), 5-1.
The biggest result of the day belonged to Holt as the son of two-time U.S. Open champion Tracy Austin won his first ATP Tour-level match in knocking out Fritz 6-7 (3), 7-6 (1), 6-3, 6-4.
"I was excited to be playing my first main draw match", he said. "Had pretty good momentum from playing three qualies matches in a row. I felt pretty match tough.
"I had a lot of fun. A lot of friends and family were on the court, in a big stadium. Biggest match i've played so far."
A disappointed Fritz told the media afterwards "i've been playing really well. Had really high hopes. I feel like an idiot for thinking I can win the US Open. I can't go out and play a match like that. It sucks. It feels awful."
Other results
In two all-French matchups, Arthur Rinderknech defeated Quentin Halys 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 and Benjamin Bonzi survived against wild card Ugo Humbert, winning 7-6 (1), 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 6-2.
There were straight sets wins for Alexander Bublik, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 over Hugo Gaston, Jack Draper, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 against Emil Ruusuvuori and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina sweeping past Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 7-5, 6-3.
Alejandro Tabilo defeated Kamil Majchrzak 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1, Cristian Garin came from a set down to beat Jiri Lehecka 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-1 and lucky loser Hugo Grenier knocked out Tomas Etcheverry 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.
There were two-set comebacks for Jordan Thompson, 2-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 against Lorenzo Sonego and Tim van Rijthoven beating Zhizhen Zhang 3-6, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (9), 6-1, 6-4. Pedro Cachin also went the distance to defeat Aljaz Bedene 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 1-6, 7-6 (6).