Samantha Stosur is hoping to get on a roll after surviving the first-round heat in a confident start to the US Open for Australia’s former champion.

As a cast of players perished in the sweltering conditions at Flushing Meadows, Stosur cruised past Hungarian Timea Babos 6-3 6-4 to book a date on Thursday with Russian Evgeniya Rodina.

“I felt great,” Stosur said.

“I guess you’re always a little bit on edge first round at a grand slam but, right from the first game, I felt really in control.

“I came out and played a really good match tonight. I’m really, really pleased with my start here, so couldn’t be happier.”

Stosur’s victory ended a run of three straight defeats and avenged her loss to Babos in her last outing in Cincinnati two weeks ago.

“Obviously given that we just played a couple of weeks ago and she got the better of me, it’s nice to be able to turn it around so quickly,” said the 22nd seed.

“Going into a second-round match, it’s always nice having played your first round well.

“So that’s the spot that I’m in. I feel good about it. Tomorrow, I can come out and practise and then do it all over again.”

Based in steamy Florida, Stosur said the hotter the better.

“I was fine,” she said.

“I was practising Tampa last week and it was way worse than what it was today, so hopefully touch wood, that won’t be an issue for me.”