World number ones Roger Federer and Justine Henin breezed past qualifiers and into the second round of the US Open while Britain's Andy Murray made a triumphant grand slam return from a wrist injury overnight.
But there was no such luck for the Australian contingent, with Samantha Stosur, Chris Guccione, Peter Luczak and Jessica Moore all crashing out.
Stosur was whipped 6-3, 6-2 by little-know Frenchwoman Alize Cornet while youngster Moore was dealt a 6-3, 6-2 beating by 20th-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova.
Guccione took the first set from rising American Donald Young before going down 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, while Luczak went down 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 to Peruvian Luis Horna.
Lleyton Hewitt, seeded 16th, begins his campaign tonight against local Amer Delic.
Alicia Molik will play Katarina Srebotnik while Nicole Pratt takes on American Jamea Jackson.
Casey Dellacqua faces Russian Yaroslava Shvedova.
Three-time defending champion Federer, seeking his 12th grand slam singles crown, opened the year's last slam event with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 thrashing of 320th-ranked American Scoville Jenkins in 92 minutes.
"It's always nice to come back to New York as defending champion," Federer said.
"I'm happy to have won my first one. I'm happy I'm through. It always feels like a bit of a relief. Now I can relax a little maybe."
Top seed Federer is in pursuit of the all-time slam record 14 by Pete Sampras and also his fourth US Open crown in a row. Not since Bill Tilden's run from 1920 to 1925 has anyone won four consecutive US Opens.
Federer also began his 187th week in a row atop the rankings to break the record streak as world number one that he has shared with Steffi Graf's 1987-1991 run.
"It's nice," he said. "Best of all, men's and women's."
Cruising Henin
Henin needed only 62 minutes to defeat 145th-ranked German Julia Goerges 6-0, 6-3. She took the first set in 24 minutes, aided by Goerges' six double faults and 15 unforced errors, and cruised to the finish.
"I'm glad to win that way. Nothing special today," said Henin, who is still battling a sore shoulder.
"I was a bit concerned the last few days with my shoulder. It's getting better but still a little scary."
Murray, a Scotsman seeded 19th, had struggled since May with a wrist injury and missed Wimbledon and the French Open but began the Flushing Meadow fortnight by defeating Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas 6-2, 6-3, 6-0.
Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko and Serbian third seed Jelena Jankovic, both 2006 US Open semi-finalists and 2007 French Open semi-finalists, advanced in straight sets as well.
Jankovic, nagged by a damaged left shoe in the second set, won her women's best 68th match of the year but needed seven match points to finally subdue Slovakian Jarmila Gajdosova 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).
Davydenko defeated Jesse Levine 6-4, 6-0, 6-1 in one hour and 40 minutes, taking full advantage of eight double faults and 47 unforced errors by the US wild card entrant.
Spain's 21st-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero was the first seed ousted from the Open, falling to compatriot Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Cypriot 18th seed Marcos Baghdatis also exited as Max Mirnyi of Belarus bounced him 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6).
Eight-time slam champion Serena Williams and six-time slam winner Venus Williams were set for night openers, the US siblings playing after ceremonies honouring Althea Gibson, the first black player to win a grand slam title. © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
