FORMER world number one Simona Halep made a winning return to Grand Slam tennis after injury with a straight-set win over Camila Giorgi at the US Open.
The Romanian, who missed this year’s French Open and Wimbledon with a calf tear, beat the Italian 6-4 7-6 (7-3).

Later on Monday, 2017 champion Sloane Stephens came through a tough battle against fellow American Madison Keys.
Spanish ninth seed Garbine Muguruza also advanced to the second round with victory against Donna Vekic.

Giorgi, ranked 36th in the world and winner of the Canadian Open this month, was a challenging first-round prospect for Halep but the two-time Grand Slam winner capitalised on her opponent’s mistakes.

The Italian made 30 unforced errors, nearly twice as many as Halep, as the Romanian 12th seed booked a second-round meeting with Slovakia’s Kristina Kucova.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Muguruza, 27, beat Vekic 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) and will play Germany’s Andrea Petkovic or Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu next.

Stephens – who beat close friend Keys in the final to claim her only Grand Slam title four years ago – recovered from a second-set dip to win 6-3 1-6 7-6 (9-7) on Arthur Ashe.
“We’re both looking to get back that form that we had in 2017,” world number 66 Stephens said.

“Madi is my best friend on tour. It is always difficult for us but we’re always able to separate the match. I am grateful for our friendship.”

Addressing the spectators who have returned to the tournament after being banned because of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the 28-year-old continued: “Playing without fans here last year was brutal.

“Feeling you guys’ energy, we missed all of that so thank you so much for coming because it really means a lot to us.”

Stephens will face Poland’s Magda Linette or compatriot Coco Gauff in the second round.Among the women’s top seeds in action later on day one are Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina, while world number one Ashleigh Barty begins her campaign today.(BBC Sport).