Sania, who entered the women's singles as a qualifier, scored an easy 6-3, 6-2 win over fellow qualifier Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal in the first-round match.

Somdev, who earned a direct entry into a Grand Slam for the first time, went down fighting against the South Africa's Kevin Anderson 3-6 4-6 3-6 in his first round in the men's singles event. The defeat means that Somdev has not gone beyond the first round in Grand Slams this season. He had failed to qualify for the Australian Open and the Wimbledon and lost in the first round of the French Open.

A second round appearance at the US Open last year remains his best performance in the Slams.

It took Sania one hour and 17 minutes to dispatch her rival and set up a second round clash with Russian 20th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

"For me, the fact that I am still capable of going on court and winning four matches in a row gives me a lot of confidence that I still have the ability," the number one female Indian player said after her win.

"I am just going to enjoy it. I was happy when I won the first round of the qualifiers and I am happy again today. I love playing here on the hardcourts in New York and always seem to do well here," she added.