Alex de Minaur is up and running at the US Open, safely into the second round following a straight-sets win over Slovakian Andrej Martin.
The Australian No.1 was too classy in all departments for Martin, and chiefly too fast around the court as he sped to a 6-4 6-3 7-5 victory in just over two hours on Wednesday.
Contesting his first grand-slam match since reaching the fourth round in New York last year, de Minaur displayed no signs of competitive rust.
He broke Martin’s serve seven times, often with clean return winners using his sizzling speed of foot to change the point of direction, and was broken only twice.
Australia’s 21st seed next faces Richard Gasquet on Friday after the veteran Frenchman eliminated 41-year-old Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-0) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in his opener.
Fellow Australian Chris O’Connell is also through to the second round after a 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 win over Serbian Laslo Djere on his Flushing Meadows debut.
O’Connell will play either Russia’s third seed and 2019 runner-up Daniil Medvedev or Argentine Federico Delbonis on Friday for a place in the third round for the first time at a major.
John Millman, a quarter-finalist two years ago, and James Duckworth were also in action on day two.