The Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday bore witness to a dazzling display of tennis mastery as Novak Djokovic, the maestro of the court, delivered an emphatic proclamation of his prowess at the US Open.

Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, a reigning force in the women's game, dazzled with her signature finesse.

The night was ablaze with fierce battles and unrelenting spirit, as stars and challengers collided in pursuit of Grand Slam glory.

Djokovic, the harbinger of a record-extending 24th Grand Slam singles title, commenced his campaign with a resounding statement, eclipsing France's Alexandre Muller with a crushing 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 triumph.

In a brisk one hour and 35 minutes, Djokovic secured not only victory but his ascent to the world No. 1 ranking, a throne he shall reclaim once the rankings reflect the US Open's outcome.

Stepping onto the hallowed grounds of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Djokovic cast aside the shadows of a heartbreaking 2021 final defeat.

As he dismantled Muller with a torrent of 32 winners and eight breaks, Djokovic's performance resonated with the phrase "lights-out tennis."

"Tonight, particularly in the first two sets, I felt it. It was almost flawless, perfect," Djokovic reflected, his words echoing the cadence of his dominance. A showdown with Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles awaits him in the second round.

The night, however, unveiled more than Djokovic's masterclass.

It revealed the tenacity of Coco Gauff, the American phenom destined to make her mark.

In a battle of resilience, Gauff overcame Germany's Laura Siegemund with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory, an epic that spanned two hours and 50 minutes.

Yet, the drama was not confined to the court; tetchy confrontations with chair umpire Marijana Veljovic underscored the intensity of the clash.

The narrative of the night was further enriched by the reigning champion Swiatek, whose court prowess defies her age.

With clinical precision, she dispatched Sweden's Rebecca Peterson with an overpowering 6-0, 6-1 statement of intent.

In a mere 58 minutes, Swiatek underscored her readiness for the quest for her fifth Grand Slam title, setting the stage for her clash with Australia's Daria Saville.

As the night unwrapped its tales, surprises were woven into the fabric of the tournament.

Eighth seed Maria Sakkari succumbed to Spain's Rebeka Masarova, Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina cruised past Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, and former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki resurfaced with a triumphant victory after a three-year hiatus.

Yet, Djokovic's journey found an unexpected opening, as Danish fourth seed Holger Rune succumbed to Spanish maestro Roberto Carballes Baena, a clay-court specialist.

The US Open's unique flavor was further enriched by Casper Ruud's gallant triumph over Emilio Nava.