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 Last year’s finalist and No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic opened his US Open campaign with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Frenchman Arnaud Clement on Wednesday at Flushing Meadows.
The 21-year-old Serb fired 14 aces and capitalized on four of seven break points, while not surrendering his own serve at all, to secure the victory after 1 hr., 59 min. as Clement fired a forehand long.
Djokovic said: "I put a lot of pressure on him with serving well. I didn't return so well. I had a lot of ups and downs and big frustrations. But it's the first match. It's always the trickiest one, but hopefully the next one will be better."
The Belgrade native, who finished runner-up to Roger Federer in his maiden Grand Slam final last year, has enjoyed a stellar 2008 season. He opened with his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open (d. Federer, Tsonga) and has since captured two further titles at the ATP Masters Series events in Indian Wells (d. Fish) and Rome (d. Wawrinka).
In the build up to the US Open, the right-hander was a finalist at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati (l. to Murray) and captured the bronze medal (d. Blake) at the Beijing Olympic Games. He now improves to 50-12 for the season, the second best record on the ATP circuit behind Rafael Nadal (71 match wins).
He goes on to face American Robert Kendrick, who won his first match in four attempts at the US Open as he defeated Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 7-6(3), 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. Kendrick, currently ranked No. 113, has a 2-6 ATP-level record this season but has enjoyed solid results on the Challenger circuit with runner-up finishes at three events.
 Top American Andy Roddick (pictured right), the 2003 US Open champion and No. 8 seed, enjoyed a strong start to his title campaign as he defeated French veteran Fabrice Santoro 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 27 minutes. He served 15 aces and converted on six of his nine break point chances to notch his 30th match win at the US Open (30-7 record).
Roddick, who is working with US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe at the US Open, has won two hard court titles this season at San Jose (d. Stepanek) and Dubai (d. Lopez) and also finished as runner-up at Los Angeles (l. to del Potro).
The 35-year-old Santoro was making his 17th event appearance - the most among any of the players in this year's men's draw.
Roddick goes on to face Latvian teenager Ernests Gulbis, with whom he shares the same birthday of August 30. The 18-year-old Gulbis defeated Swede Thomas Johansson 7-5, 6-1, 7-6(3). Gulbis made a surprising fourth round run last year in his US Open debut, posting an upset over No. 8 Tommy Robredo before falling to Carlos Moya.
American Robby Ginepri advanced to the second round with a 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(5) victory over compatriot Amer Delic. The 25-year-old Ginepri is making his eighth appearance at the US Open; his best result came in 2005 when he reached the semifinals before falling to Andre Agassi in five sets.
Ginepri will next face Croatian No. 30 seed and last week's New Haven champion Marin Cilic. The 19-year-old, who is making his US Open debut ranked a career-high No. 24, came through a five-set battle against Frenchman Julien Benneteau, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-2.
Wednesday: Seeds Davydenko, Almagro & Tsonga Advance
Tuesday: Federer Wins Record 28th Straight At Flushing Meadows
Tuesday: Safin, Haas Win Five Set Tussles; Verdasco Cruises
Monday: Nadal Defeats Qualifier; Murray Wins; Blake Survives
Monday: Ferrer Makes Strong Start; Wawrinka Into Second Round
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