Swiatek, Sinner ease into US Open second round, Gauff highlights evening session

NEW YORK :Past winners Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner walloped their U.S. Open first-round opponents on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, as home fans eagerly awaited 2023 champion Coco Gauff in the evening programme.

Ticketholders enjoyed a third day of round-one action on Tuesday thanks to the tournament's newly expanded, 15-day schedule that organisers hoped would accommodate more fans after three straight years of record-breaking attendances.

The Wimbledon winner Swiatek arrived in New York in pristine form after hoisting the trophy at the Cincinnati tune-up tournament and cruised past Emiliana Arango 6-1 6-2 in an hour, never facing a break point.

The 2022 champion next plays the Netherlands' Suzan Lamens.

"Every year is kind of tough, because New York is just so loud, you know, and it's hard to find that balance off the court," she said.

"But I've got to say I'm probably good at it compared to other players, so I'm really trying to be in my bubble."

It was the first of two lopsided affairs on Ashe, as the top-ranked men's defending champion Jannik Sinner swatted aside his Czech opponent Vit Kopriva 6-1 6-1 6-2, setting up a meeting with Australian Alexei Popyrin.

The Italian entered the 2024 tournament under a cloud of controversy after it was revealed he had escaped a doping ban despite failing two drug tests but had the crowd firmly on his side this time around.

Across the plaza, 10th seed Lorenzo Musetti outlasted big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-7(3) 6-3 6-4 6-4 in the first match of the day at Louis Armstrong Stadium and he will next play Belgian David Goffin.

American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova rolled past Australian Kimberly Birrell 6-3 6-2 in the second match on Armstrong, sending over 17 winners