Defending champions Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff enjoyed comfortable wins in the first round of the U.S. Open on Monday while Dominic Thiem bid a final farewell to the Grand Slam where he enjoyed his greatest triumph.
Djokovic, looking to become the first player to capture 25 Grand Slam titles, capped the evening session under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 6-2 6-2 6-4 victory over Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot.
The Serbian world No. 2 had not competed since winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris and shook off the rust to cruise past Albot in his bid to become the first man to retain the New York title since Roger Federer in 2008.