Former US Open semi-finalist Angelique Kerber began her campaign at Flushing Meadows with a straight-sets win over Lucie Hradecka tonight.

Kerber went into the match with a 5-0 record against her Czech opponent and quickly built an advantage on Court 13, taking the first set 6-1 in 30 minutes.

Hradecka found first serves difficult to come by throughout the match and dropped a fourth break early in the second set, giving Kerber an opening she swiftly maximised.

The former world number five put some poor recent form behind her with a comfortable victory, finishing a 6-1 6-1 win in 56 minutes.