Daniil Medvedev had been left in the shade by the top two but the third-seeded Russian made a strong start as he chases a second US Open crown in three years, dispatching Hungarian Attila Balazs 6-1, 6-1, 6-0.

China’s contingent, too, have made a promising start to the fortnight – not least Wang Yafan, who upset France’s seventh seed Caroline Garcia, a semi-finalist last year, 6-4, 6-1.

Her compatriot Zheng Qinwen beat Nadia Podoroska 6-1, 6-0, while in the men’s draw Wu Yibing outlasted Dusan Lajovic 3-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Andy Murray shrugged off a bungled attempt to use video review technology for the first time at the tournament in his defeat of France’s Corentin Moutet. The 2012 winner, 36, saw off Moutet 6-2, 7-5, 6-3, and will next face Bulgaria’s 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov.

Tuesday’s first-round tussle was notable for a bizarre incident in the final set, when Moutet requested a video review after chair umpire Azemar Engzell awarded Murray a point for a double-bounce.

Although replay footage displayed on stadium screens appeared to show the point had been correctly awarded, Engzell said officials were unable to review the incident properly and so attempts to use the video review system – being deployed at the US Open for the first time this year – were abandoned.

“I don’t know exactly how it’s supposed to work and who’s supposed to make the decision on it because it was quite clear from the second video that the ball had bounced twice,” Murray said.

“We watched it about 10 times. It clearly is not the umpire that’s making that decision. I don’t know how the technology works. But it obviously didn’t go to plan in a pretty important moment of the match. So, yeah, it would be good if they could get that fixed.”

The Scot has battled a litany of injury problems in recent years, but believes he is playing at his highest level since 2017.

“I’m at my highest ranking [37] since I had my metal hip put in,” the two-time Wimbledon champion said. “I’m happy with that. It’s not been an easy journey.

“I would like to be ranked higher, but this is the best I’ve played consistently since 2017. I’m happy to still be going, still progressing, and hopefully I can keep pushing my ranking up.”

Women’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus won 6-3, 6-2 against Belgium’s Ukraine-born Maryna Zanevska, who brought the curtain down on her career by refusing a post-match handshake.

Several Ukrainian players have snubbed handshakes with opponents from Russia or its ally Belarus since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Zanevska, 30, accused the Australian Open champion of not “stepping up” since the conflict began.

“I respect Aryna as a tennis player,” Zanevska said. “But it’s my personal decision about not shaking the hand to someone who couldn’t step up. I don’t judge her. She’s protecting her family, but I’m protecting my family.

“I have family fighting on the frontline. And I think if I shake her hand it would be the same as spitting in the face of them.”

Zanevska’s snub was greeted with scattered booing.

“It was not the best way of leaving the court because people were booing but I was ready for that,” she said. “But I’m leaving the tennis world with my head up and something I believe I did right.”

Two-time champion Venus Williams suffered her most lopsided loss in 24 appearances at the tournament with a 6-1 6-1 defeat by qualifier Greet Minnen.

“In 1997, Venus already played a final here and I was just born, so for me it was incredible to play a legend like her,” the 26-year-old Minnen said.

Asked when she might hang up her racket, Williams, 43, was non-committal.

“I wouldn’t tell you,” she said with a smile. “I don’t know. I don’t know why you’re asking.”

Another veteran, Stan Wawrinka, became the oldest man to win a match at the tournament since 40-year-old Jimmy Connors in 1992.

The 2016 champion, 38, earned his first win in New York in four years as he beat Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 7-6, 6-2, 6-4.