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NEW YORK -- Jessica Pegula was one of the first players to compete at the U.S. Open, and she learned last year that starting Sunday provided some nice relief.
"It is a little bit weird, but I did kind of enjoy that I could breathe for the next couple of days and everyone else is still freaking out about whether they're going to win their first round," she said.
The head start is great -- unless it's a head start back to the airport.
"We were just talking about it, and I said, it's so nice to play on Sunday when you win. But if you lose it's not nice, because you feel like the tournament didn't even start and you're out of it," No. 11 seed Marta Kostyuk said.
Pegula and Kostyuk both won easily and now the get the benefit of any extra day of rest before returning for the second round.
Novak Djokovic lost the first set as he began his quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title on Sunday night against Mariano Navone. The match was paused during the first set so that the roof above Arthur Ashe Stadium could be closed because of rain that suspended play on the outer courts. Djokovic, 39, and Navone were tied a two sets apiece late Sunday night.
The No. 3-seeded Pegula beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2. She said she was nervous early, which makes sense given what could be at stake for the 2024 U.S. Open runner-up.
Pegula leads the women's tour with 46 wins this season. She has two titles and has reached three other finals. Pegula can become No. 1 in the rankings if she wins her first major title and No. 2 Elena Rybakina loses before the semifinals.
Kostyuk beat Storm Hunter 6-4, 6-1 for a strong start to the year's final major after reaching the semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Elsewhere in sports:
-- Jude Bellingham starred as Real Madrid made it three wins in three games under José Mourinho in the Spanish league. Bellingham scored one goal and created another. Kylian Mbappé and substitute Arda Güler also scored as Madrid eased to a 4-0 home win over Malaga.