Serena, Stephens advance on Day 1 of US Open 

Americans made waves in their home country on Monday, with 11 members of Team USA advancing to Round 2 of the 2018 US Open.

Taylor Fritz electrified the crowds in the Big Apple, when he bounced back from two sets down to dismiss world No. 48 Mischa Zverev. The world No. 74 planted 18 aces and won 68 percent of his first-serve points to punch his ticket into the second round in three hours and 58 minutes. Next up, the young gun will face Australia’s Jason Kubler. 

Other American men victors included top American man John Isner, who defeated fellow countryman and wild card Bradley Khlan, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4. The world No. 11 launched 34 winners, including 20 aces, in the one hour, 53 minute affair. 

“I’m very happy to win in straight sets. It’s pretty muggy out here. The conditions are not easy to play in,” Isner said. 

Joining his Davis Cup teammate in the winners’ circle today was world ranked No. 18 Jack Sock, who converted six of 14 break chances to secure the win. He’ll next play Nikoloz Basilashvili. 

World No. 72 Denis Kudla won in straight sets over Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2, and Steve Johnson won 70 percent of his first-serve points to defeat Denis Istomin, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3. 

On the women’s side, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens embarked on her US Open title defense, defeating 80th-ranked Evgeniya Rodina, 6-1, 7-5, in the brand new Louis Armstrong Stadium. 

Serena Williams had a strong debut back on the hard courts in Queens, ousting Poland’s Magda Linette, 6-4, 6-0, under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The No. 17 seed’s win today was her first at the US Open since 2016, after which she took time off to give birth to daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., in September of 2017. 

Serena’s older sister, Venus, also secured her second-round place in the tournament on Ashe as well, upending Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. The three-set battle lasted close to three hours.

Other American ladies to win on Day 1 include Vania King, who defeated Russia’s Natalia Vikhlyantseva, 7-6, 6-3; wild-card recipient Claire Liu ousted world No. 77 Polona Hercog of Slovenia, 7-6, 1-6, 6-4; and Sofia Kenin, who defeated compatriot Madison Brengle, 6-0, 4-6, 7-6. 

Day 2 will see 12 Americans begin their 2018 US Open campaign.

Pro Circuit standout Taylor Townsend and 2017 US Open girls’ singles champion Amanda Anisimova will start the action at 11 a.m., when the compatriots will take to opposite sides of Court 11 in their first-round match. 

Following their match will be Tennessee native Tennys Sandgren taking on Serbia’s Viktor Troicki. 

Another All-American matchup sees qualifier Francesca Di Lorenzo of Pittsburgh pitted against New Jersey native Christina McHale.

No. 24 seed and Fed Cup team member Coco Vandeweghe will take on Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, and her fellow Fed Cup team member, Alison Riske, will battle Sorana Cirstea of Romania.

Qualifier Nicole Gibbs will take on Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro, seeded No. 30 in the tournament. 

Rounding out the men’s action, wild card Tim Smyczek will duel with Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, Jenson Brooksby will take on Australia’s John Millman, and wild-card recipient Michael Mmoh will have a tough match against No. 14 seed Fabio Fognini.