No early shocks as Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters ease through

Shocks were conspicuous by their absence on the opening day of the US Open, with Venus Williams and defending champion Kim Clijsters among the seeds enjoying a comfortable passage into the second round at Flushing Meadows.

Third seed Williams had not played since losing in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon due to a knee injury, but relied on all her big-match experience to beat Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-4 6-1 in the first evening match on Arthur Ashe Stadium. There were occasional signs of her left knee causing Williams some pain, and she admitted: "I was doing pretty good until I landed on that leg. I was pretty happy with my game, I did everything pretty consistently and I had to because she didn't give me a lot of errors. But of course I'm looking to improve with every match."

World No 1 Serena Williams is absent with a foot injury of her own and Williams added: "It's not the same without two Williams (sisters]. I have a lot of victory shoes to fill but I am trying."

Clijsters earlier conceded she no longer has the element of surprise on her side after recovering from 4-0 down in the second set against Greta Arn. The second seed completed a remarkable return to the sport last year after previously retiring in 2007, beating Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki in the final at Flushing Meadows in only her 14th match and third tournament of what she likes to call her "second career". American Melanie Oudin, who reached the quarter-finals here last year as a 17-year-old, enjoyed a 6-3 6-0 victory over Olga Savchuk of Ukraine, and there were also easy victories for sixth seed Francesca Schiavone and 12th seed Elena Dementieva.

Fifth seed Samantha Stosur was made to work harder before eventually beating Russia's Elena Vesnina 3-6, 7-6, 6-1, while former world No 1 Dinara Safina, who was top seed here last year, bowed out after losing 6-3, 6-4 to 24th seed Daniela Hantuchova.

Another former world No 1 looking to climb back up the rankings, Serbia's Ana Ivanovic, enjoyed a 6-3, 6-2 win over Ekaterina Makarova.

Britain's Anne Keothavong failed to join Elena Baltacha in round two. She appeared on course when she cruised through the opening set 6-2, but then lost 12 of the next 14 games as Chan completed a 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory on Court 14.