Andy Murray overcame the unpredictable Nick Kyrgios in four sets.
In the pick of first-round matches at Flushing Meadows, the British third seed completed a 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-1 victory over an erratic Kyrgios.
Murray sent down 18 aces despite serving at just 58 per cent, with his final winners (46) and unforced errors (23) ratio impressive.
But there were times when Murray just allowed Kyrgios to unravel.
Kyrgios was his usual self, mixing the brilliant and entertaining with the unnecessary and bewildering on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The controversial Australian 20-year-old's unusual on-court behaviour continued, with first-set complaints about movement in the arena and slouching during changes of ends.
Roger Federer cruised through his US Open first-round clash as the seeds enjoyed a good day at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday.
The Swiss second seed breezed past Leonardo Mayer 6-1 6-2 6-2 in an impressive start to his campaign on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Unlike in the women's draw, the male seeds enjoyed plenty of success.
Stan Wawrinka (fifth seed) was below his best but beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-5 6-4 7-6 (8-6), while Tomas Berdych (sixth) eased past Bjorn Fratangelo 6-3 6-2 6-4.
The only seed to fall was Gilles Simon, who went down to American left-hander Donald Young 2-6 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4.
The sweltering conditions in New York continued to claim their victims, with retirements aplenty once more.
A cramping Thanasi Kokkinakis was reduced to serving underarm at one stage before retiring when trailing Richard Gasquet 4-6 6-1 4-6 6-3 2-0.
Lleyton Hewitt's final US Open showing was extended when Aleksandr Nedovyesov retired with the Australian veteran leading 6-0 7-6 (7-2) 1-0.
Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis also failed to finish, retiring when down 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-2 3-1 to Steve Darcis, while Aljaz Bedene went through having led Ernests Gulbis 3-6 6-4 3-0.
John Isner fired down 24 aces in a 6-2 6-3 6-4 win over Malek Jaziri, Jack Sock eased past Victor Estrella Burgos 6-2 6-3 6-2 and Nicolas Mahut beat Sam Querrey 7-5 7-6 (8-6) 7-5.
Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka battled to a 6-4 2-6 6-7 (7-9) 6-1 6-2 win over Paul-Henri Mathieu, in-form South African Kevin Anderson sent down 32 aces in a 7-6 (7-1) 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-3 victory against Andrey Rublev and Viktor Troicki was untroubled in a 7-5 6-4 6-3 success over teenager Frances Tiafoe.
Austin Krajicek edged Santiago Giraldo 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-1), Philipp Kohlschreiber overcame Alexander Zverev 6-7 (0-7) 6-2 6-0 2-6 6-4 in an all-German battle and Jurgen Melzer had no problems in a 6-3 7-5 6-1 win over Denis Kudla.
Brazilian 30th seed Thomaz Bellucci had a 6-1 7-5 6-3 win over James Ward and Mikhail Youzhny beat John-Patrick Smith 6-1 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7-4), while Bernard Tomic claimed a 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 6-3 victory against Damir Dzumhur.
Ivo Karlovic's 21 aces helped him past Federico Delbonis 6-3 7-5 7-5, Lukas Rosol beat Jared Donaldson 7-6 (9-7) 6-0 7-6 (7-4), Jiri Vesely claimed a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win over Paolo Lorenzi and Gilles Muller went down to Ruben Bemelmans 6-4 1-6 6-4 6-4.
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez defeated Janko Tipsarevic 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-1, Dominic Thiem cruised past Daniel Gimeno-Traver 7-5 6-3 7-5, Chung Hyeon crushed James Duckworth 6-3 6-1 6-2, Robin Haase edged Dustin Brown 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-5 6-4 and Denis Istomin overcame Benjamin Becker 6-7 (9-11) 6-4 6-4 6-1.
Adrian Mannarino enjoyed a 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 6-1 win over Konstantin Kravchuk and Ryan Harrison was well beaten by Rajeev Ram 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-1.