Britons Greg Rusedski and Alex Bogdanovic both crashed out in the first round to France’s Cyril Saulnier and Spain’s Alex Calatrava respectively.

British number two Rusedski twice battled back from a set down to reach match point in the fifth set tie-break but Saulnier produced three successive winners to claim his first victory in a five-set match, 6-4 3-6 6-1 3-6 7-6 (9/7).

Bogdanovic, a late qualifier for the event, turned things around to lead 2-1 after losing the first set but then won just five games in the final two sets to lose 6-3 3-6 4-6 6-1 6-4.

Fourth seed Carlos Moya survived a scare before defeating unseeded American Brian Baker in four sets.

The Spaniard found himself a set down when he lost the first-set tie-break, but Moya then improved his game to claim a 6-7 (6/8) 6-4 6-4 6-2 triumph.

Jiri Novak, the number 25 seed, advanced with a straight sets win over fellow Czech player Radek Stepanek, 7-5 6-1 6-3.

In the women’s competition second seed Amelie Mauresmo, of France, successfully bounced back from a disappointing finish in Athens.

Mauresmo, who was routed in the final of the Olympics by top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne, opened play at Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 6-4 6-2 victory over American Marissa Irvin.

Karolina Sprem was one of the first casualties among the seeds however as the Croatian was defeated 6-3 2-6 6-4 by her compatriot Jelena Kostanic.

Sprem defeated Venus Williams in the second round at Wimbledon and was tipped to advance at least to the second week at Flushing Meadows.

Former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez looked to be heading through when she took the first set 6-0 against number 31 seed Maria Vento-Kabchi.

But the Venezuelan recovered to win the next two sets and move into round two with a 0-6 6-2 6-3 win.

Tenth seed Vera Zvonareva, of Russia, is also in the second round after destroying Slovakian Henrieta Nagyova 6-1 6-1.