Gael Monfils started his US Open campaign with a comfortable first-round victory over Jared Donaldson on Tuesday.
The Frenchman took just over two hours to beat the world number 303 by a 6-4 6-2 6-4 scoreline at Flushing Meadows.
Donaldson started brightly as he forced Monfils to save two break points in the 20th seed's opening service game, but the American wildcard was on the back foot for the remainder of the contest.
He surrendered his serve in the third game and then had to save two break points in games five and seven to prevent Monfils from taking the first by a more convincing margin than the 6-4 score.
The former quarter-finalist dominated the second, dropping just five points on his own serve and breaking twice to secure full control, and he took this momentum into the third by breaking at the first attempt.
Donaldson did not roll over, though, and briefly gave the home crowd something to shout about when he broke back to level the set, before Monfils responded in turn and wrapped up victory on match point three.
