Top Seeds Roll At U.S. Open

Former champions Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams were among the first-round winners Monday at the U.S. Open. Second-seeded Simona Halep and fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska also advanced on the first day of play at the year's fourth Grand Slam, as did former world No. 1 and U.S. Open runner-up Caroline Wozniacki.

Meanwhile, sixth-seeded German left-hander Angelique Kerber snuck past Russian Ksenia Pervak, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, and ninth-seeded former top-ranked star Jelena Jankovic subdued fellow Serb Bojana Jovanovski, 6-2, 6-3.

 Top seed Novak  Djokovic beat Argentina's Diego Schwartzman  in three  sets Monday night in their first-round match at the U.S. Open. Djokovic started his quest for an eighth Grand Slam title with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win in the final match of the night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Former champion Andy Murray was tested in his first-round match Monday, while third seed Stan Wawrinka and No. 5 seed Milos Raonic won their openers in straight sets. Ninth-seeded former Australian Open runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France snuck past gritty Argentine Juan Monaco 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.