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Serena Williams began her bid to make history at the US Open in bizarre fashion as her opponent Vitalia Diatchenko retired after 30 minutes. This has placed her in full contention for glory in the US Open, a championship many think she will win again as she has done several times in the past. She is presently world number one and she had sent signals to other contenders that she intends to remain so for years to come. Her persistence and consistency are surely making things go her way.

The world number one dropped just five points against a clearly injured opponent at Flushing Meadows. Williams, 33, is hoping to complete the first tennis calendar Grand Slam in 27 years. She has shown she has what it takes to fulfil her dreams as she had prove over and again that she is a force to reckon with in the game of tennis.

In the men's tennis category on the other hand, men's top seed Novak Djokovic made swift progress, but fourth seed Kei Nishikori was beaten. The later confessed this is a big dent in his hopes and aspirations, but promised to look for his opportunities and take them in the future. The Japanese player, last year's runner-up, went down 6-4 3-6 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to Frenchman Benoit Paire.

"It's always very sad to lose in the first round, but I think he was playing good tennis so I don't think I played bad," said Nishikori. Djokovic swept past Brazil's Joao Souza 6-1 6-1 6-1 to reach round two, but there were a host of upsets in the women's draw. Ivanovic, the seventh seed, was beaten 6-3 3-6 6-3 by Dominika Ciblukova of Slovakia, and she was followed out of the tournament by five more seeds.

Serena Williams was openly generous in her praise for Diatchenko after a workout that last just 37 points, with the American winning 32 of it. It is not surprising anyway, considering the caliber of tennis player she is. "I told her I was proud of her for coming out and making this effort, knowing she was injured," said Williams. "That's a great effort."

Up to five seeds in Serena Williams' half of the draw however lost their matches on the opening day. Her chances of reaching the women's final were boosted even before the world number one began her title defence as seeds tumbled to leave the American with no other top-10 player in her half of the draw.

As well as Ivanovic, eighth seed Karolina Pliskova - who lost 6-2 6-1 to Anna Tatishvili - and 10th seed Carla Suarez Navarro failed to progress, while Maria Sharapova withdrew on the eve of the tournament because of injury. This further pave the way for another victory for Serena.

Former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded 30th, and former finalist Jelena Jankovic, seeded 21st, also exited on day one. Williams' sister Venus, the two-time champion, did advance to the second round, beating Monica Puig - only her second victory since losing in the last 16 at Wimbledon.