Cat Archer
BBC Radio 5 live at Flushing Meadows

It's fair to say the sound isn't quite right for Shania. The audience can't hear her voice in the stadium. Makes a nice backdrop for match preview chat on sports extra, however.

How are the players on the outside courts coping with Shania Twain blasting out her greatest hits while they complete their first round matches?

I type this as she yelps away to "Man! I Feel Like a Woman".

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent at Flushing Meadows

Shania Twain's stage is a giant tennis racquet. She is walking down the throat of the racquet, onto the grip and is about to fall off it. But she puts the brakes on.

When Sharapova and Halep come out for the coin toss they might choose the end where the set is because they might want to follow in the footsteps of Shania and hope it will bring them some luck in that first service game...

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

Image source, BBC Sport

The day session is done and the night session crowd have arrived, after some serous queuing to get into Arthur Ashe Stadium. Most have come direct from the food court, where lines are 30-40 deep, among them BBC 5 live's David Law searching in vain for a "healthy option". Do gherkins count?

You can actually hear her right now on Radio 5 live sports extra and arguably her biggest hit That Don't Impress me Much.

Not entirely sure what time Sharapova v Halep will start yet.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

You can listen to all the goings on under the floodlights in New York on Radio 5 live sports extra right now.

Just click the tab at the top of this page.

You might even hear a little Shania.

Image source, Getty Images

Before we get to tonight's main event we have Shania Twain performing at the opening ceremony.

The popstar is celebrating her 52nd birthday today with a concert on Arthur Ashe court.

It's also the 20th anniversary of her album Come on Over.

I apologise in advance for any Shania-based puns.

Image source, Getty Images

Tonight sees arguably the match of the first round.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova taking on world number two and second seed Simona Halep.

Halep doesn't have the fondest memories of facing the Russian, losing all six of their previous encounters, including the 2014 French Open final.

The Romanian, who also reached the French Open final this year, has a chance to become the world number one if results go her way over the next two weeks.

First she will have to get past Sharapova, who has not had the best of times since her comeback.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Country music mega star Shania Twain might be the headline act of the US Open opening ceremony tonight, but there is another star that the punters have packed into the Arthur Ashe Stadium to see.

Making her Grand Slam comeback...Maria Sharapova.

Welcome back, what a night of tennis we have in store for you.

While Johanna Konta has to compose herself and give a round of what are sure to be despondent interviews, we're taking the opportunity to run to the BBC microwaves and warm up some stodge.

But don't fear - it is not home time. We will back just after midnight (that's BST) for the small matter of second seed Simona Halep and some wildcard called Maria Sharapova.

That is a do not miss match. See you in a bit!

Image source, Getty Images/EPA

Now Aleksandra Krunic has to continue working hard in New York... she's got a second-round match coming up. We don't know who exactly she will play, although we do know it will be either Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic or Sweden's Johanna Larsson.

Tomljanovic has only won once at Flushing Meadows, that came back in 2013, while Larsson reached the third round last year.

A happy Aleksandra Krunic after beating seventh seed Johanna Konta: "I feel amazing, I'm happy with the way I played and fought - she is an awesome player and I had to be at my best from the first point.

"I am proud that I did things tactically in my head and it worked out. In my case it is not about the tennis, it is about getting my stuff together.

"I am not the best server on tour, I am happy I had everything together and I was brave enough to make some winners.

"Three years ago [when she reached the fourth round] everything worked out well in that week.

"Before and after that I was not a hard worker, this year I have been working really hard and I try and cool myself down on the court, I am not sure if it is obvious it it is hard. I am now winning more matches and that is what matters."

Image source, Reuters

Here's our tennis correspondent's 140-character take on Konta's defeat...

Some users may have to click the link to see this Tweet.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

Konta is off the court seconds after her last backhand has flown wide, and her US Open challenge is over before it really began. A huge result for Krunic, reminiscent of her 2014 wins over Madison Keys and Petra Kvitova, as is her engaging post-match interview - "I'm not really a hard worker."

She smacks a few balls into the crowd and heads for the locker room and round two.

Konta had reached the fourth round in the last two years and hopes were obviously high that she could build on that this time, but just two wins on hard courts coming into New York might have left her a little short. However, she brimmed with positivity in the last few days and this defeat will be a major blow.

Image source, Rex Features

Who saw that coming at 4-1 to Konta in the first set? Not me. I was already planning to book a taxi home for 9pm.

The British number one completely lost her way when Krunic fought back to 4-4 and could not recover.

Naomi Broady
British number three on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra at Flushing Meadows

Fair play to Krunic, she has played so well, it was a combination of Jo not being quite at her best. Jo didn't play badly but her first serve disappeared in the first set and that let Krunic back in.

Aleksandra Krunic came to wider attention when she reached the fourth round at Flushing Meadows in 2014 as a qualifier, beating third seed Petra Kvitova en route.

The Serb, who is giving a wonderfully honest on-court interview at the moment by the way, has not done much since.

Until now, earning the second top-10 win of her career against an out-of-sorts Konta.

No Johanna Konta and, of course, no Andy Murray. And we're only halfway through day one at Flushing Meadows. Kyle Edmund - over to you...

(And not forgetting Cameron Norrie...)