Analysis: Title challengers progress, big seeds fall, legends bow out: the main talking points from the first round of the US Open

Their closest rivals found the going quite simple. Carlos Alcaraz rocked a new haircut on Arthur Ashe, but swiftly got people talking about his tennis again. Just one break was needed in each set to see off the big-serving Reily Opekla. Alexander Zverev got past Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets and just the two breaks of serve, last year's runner-up, Taylor Fritz, overcame fellow countryman Emilio Nava, while four-time winner Novak Djokovic started his title ambitions with a triumph over Learner Tien.

In the women's draw, Iga Swiatek comes into the tournament as Sabalenka's biggest challenger after victory at Wimbledon and Cincinnati. She continued this ominous form with a dominant win over Colombian Emiliana Arango in just one hour. It took three times as long for Gauff to get past her opening round tie. In three remarkably tight sets, she used her previous Grand Slam experience to overcome Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic. The 2023 winner comes into the tournament out of form, but still proves she should be one to look out for.

Seeds departing early

Out of the 64 seeds who entered the ATP and WTA US Open, 59 of them advanced to round two. The unfortunate five were upstaged by lower-ranked players. The most surprising of these was the reigning Australian Open champion, Madison Keys, being knocked out of her home Grand Slam. She succumbed to defeat to Mexican Renata Zarazua in three sets. The world number 82 staged a remarkable comeback after missing three match points to claim the first set, winning the second set in a tiebreak before breaking the American's serve to cause a seismic upset.

Clara Tauson also departed New York with a surprising result after her recent positive performances, including a semi-final appearance in Montreal after knocking out Swiatek. She went into the tournament as one to watch, but was knocked out by a fellow young rising star in Alexandra Eala, who won her first Grand Slam match. Number 24 seed Veronika Kudermetova was shocked by the world number 149 Janice Tjen, who sets up a round two tie against 2021 winner Emma Raducanu.

In the men's draw, Daniil Medvedev's third consecutive major opening round defeat was overshadowed by a controversial moment when a cameraman walked onto the court as Benjamin Bonzi served for the match. The angry Russian poised on the situation, clawing his way back into the tie from 2-0 down, but was pipped at the post by the Frenchman, who aids the continuing downfall of the former US Open champion. Another Frenchman by the name of Adrian Mannarino caused the only other seed departure, knocking out Dutch number one Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets, whitewashing him in the final set.

Other names make their mark

Jack Draper comes into the tournament under a lot of pressure after two underwhelming Grand Slam appearances, along with a handful of points to defend following his semi-final appearance last year. His title charge started with a positive win over qualifier Federico Agustin Gomez. The world number five did not make it easy for himself after the Argentine found a way back into the match, but saw it out with a secure fourth set.

It was also a positive start for Raducanu, who broke her losing streak at Flushing Meadows, winning her first match since the 2021 final. She completed a flawless performance against Ena Shibahara in just over an hour in a statement performance. The British number one has been unlucky in Grand Slams this year, either being knocked out by Swiatek or Sabalenka. She will be hoping to avoid those talents and to go on a deep run to coincide with her vast improvement she has shown on the court this year.

Away from the Brits, two-time champion Naomi Osaka got off to a winning start. The world number 23 has started to find her previous form on a more consistent basis. Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova will have a lot of American onlookers watching her progress, and they were impressed by her straight-sets win over Kimberly Birrell. Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Mirra Andreeva dropped a combined eight games in their triumphs.

2022 finalist Casper Ruud cruised to a 2-0 lead against Sebastian Ofner before clinching a tiebreak to send him through. He has already come close to tasting success after defeat in the mixed doubles final with Swiatek. American favourites Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe cruised to popular wins, while young superstar Joao Fonseca brought a host of Brazilian fans to Flushing Meadows to follow his impressive straight-sets win over Miomir Kecmanovic.

Big names bow out of the sport

45-year-old Venus Williams's US Open ended in a first-round defeat to Karolina Muchova in three sets. The American icon pushed the 2023 Roland Garros final to the end, but was unable to force what would have been a universally popular win. There are question marks around her possible return in the future, with this defeat possibly marking her final professional match.

Petra Kvitova's retirement from the sport was confirmed after a heavy defeat to Diane Parry. The two-time Wimbledon champion became a mum last year and moved away to focus on life outside of tennis. Caroline Garcia also said goodbye to the sport. The former world number four has struggled on and off the court in the last couple of years and has called an end to her career at Flushing Meadows.