Easy victories for Novak, Coco

Defending champion Novak Djokovic eased into the second round of the US Open with a straight-sets victory over qualifier Radu Albot on Monday as Coco Gauff launched her defence of the women's title with a convincing victory.

Djokovic, seeking his 25th Grand Slam title and his first since his victory at Flushing Meadows last year, wasn't his sharpest self.

But he was more than a match for 138th-ranked Albot, breaking the Moldovan six times on the way to a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory.

He notched a men's record 78th match win on Arthur Ashe Stadium, where he said the "electric" energy of the night session was unlike any other.

"The night sessions here are best in the world," said Djokovic, who capped the action on a day that drew a record 74 641 spectators according to the US Tennis Association.

That included a day-session crowd of 42 886 and a record-setting night-session crowd of 31 775.

"There's an incredible energy, and with the new rule this year that the crowd can move around, there are a lot of things happening," the four-time champion said.