Czech third seed Kvitova thrashed France's Kristina Mladenovic 6-1 6-0, losing just eight points on serve as she cruised into the second round.
The reigning Wimbledon champion said the win was momentous, as the previous time she won the title at SW19 - in 2011 - she followed that up with a first-round loss at Flushing Meadows.
The 24-year-old said she was pleased to not suffer the same letdown again.
"Of course the other grand slams [aside from Wimbledon] are a big challenge for me right now to do a good result, especially here, where I don't really have a good result," Kvitova said, after her win on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"So I'm really motivated to do well here. You know, I remember 2011 when I lost my first round after winning Wimbledon, so I'm just glad that I'm better [than that] already."
Kvitova attributed part of her lesser record at the US major - her best effort was a fourth-round appearance in 2012 - down to the culture in New York.
Music blares through the speakers at changes of ends on the main courts, in one notable difference to the other three majors.
Kvitova said she is more suited to the more traditional aspects of grand slam tournaments.
"I'm not really this person, [and don't] really love it. But that's the grand slam, it's an important one," she said.
"If I'm comparing with Wimbledon, it's [a] really big difference. It's more crowd, it's more big show, something like that. So it's not really my person. But it's a grand slam.
"Stepping on the court, it doesn't matter where it is, just play your game and do the best on the court."
Kvitova will take on compatriot Petra Cetkovska in the second round.