Emma Raducanu looks to set the tone with a fizzing forehand that forces Alize Cornet into the net.

A double fault takes Raducanu to 15-30 and another hands over an early break point for the Briton!

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

A gusty breeze whips around the 14,000-seater stadium, slipping in the letterbox-style gap between the top and bottom tiers.

Paper notes of the journalists and tissue napkins of the punters are threatening to escape.

It doesn't seem to affect either player too much in the warm-up, mind.

Right then. Ready?

Alize Cornet to serve as defending champion Emma Raducanu's US open campaign gets under way!

David Law
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

Cornet owns up to it and she called herself at the Australian Open 'a drama queen for the people'.

You will know exactly how she is feeling at every moment. She will shout and scream at everyone. She might even cry.

She's very irritating to play against but that's what she brings to the table.

But she is very experienced, she's just played her 500th match, she's set a record for Slam appearances.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

Here is the defending champion!

Armstrong is nowhere near full - the Americans never turn up on time for their sporting events - as Emma Raducanu strolls out but there is a heck of a noisy reception.

Image source, BBC Sport

We remain on serve on Arthur Ashe, where Rafael Nadal is taking on Australian Rinky Hijikata for a place in the second round.

Hijikata, a 21-year-old wildcard, is making his Grand Slam main draw debut in New York.

Speaking before the tournament, he said of Nadal: “It’s not often you get to play a player of that calibre and I’m definitely pumped. I can’t wait to go out there and give it my best shot.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to go out there on the biggest stages of tennis and try to have a big crack at players like that. I’m excited for the contest, I’m excited for the challenge. I want to go out there and represent everyone and try and give it my best shot.”

Image source, Getty Images

A big cheer greets Emma Raducanu and Alize Cornet as, finally, they're able to make the journey out on to the court.

Louis Armstrong Stadium is still yet to look anywhere near full as we wait for the night session crowds to pile in - but that noise suggests those who have already taken their seats are pretty excited for this.

Image source, Reuters

Laura Robson
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live

I really am not sure how this match will go.

I was encouraged by Raducanu's performance in Cincinnati, and she is on Louis Armstrong, so maybe there is not as much pressure.

Raducanu has got the trickiest opponent in Alize Cornet - you have to play really well and make lots of balls, but she might be tired because she had an epic week in Cleveland.

Cornet matches are always fun - there will always be some drama.

This is Grand Slam number six for Emma Raducanu, following her first major appearance at Wimbledon last summer.

She is yet to lose in the first round, but she will come up against a vastly experienced opponent in Alize Cornet tonight.

The 32-year-old is making her 63rd consecutive Grand Slam appearance - a new Open Era record - and reached her first major quarter-final at this year's Australian Open.

The French player has already recorded five wins against top-20 ranked opponents this year, and beat world number one Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon.

Image source, Getty Images

David Law
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

What we can say is that Raducanu's approach to coaching is unorthodox. She has had good coaches and they have had an impact.

Her and her father's approach is to change coaches and it inevitably causes a bit of chat.

My suspicion is that a settled team is a good idea but also, she should be given two years from that US Open win to just work it out.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

As the players walk into Ashe there is a bronze plaque inscribed with Billie Jean King's iconic quote: 'Pressure is a privilege'.

That has very much been Emma Raducanu's mantra at Flushing Meadows.

The British number one says "using the positive energy from the place" is the best way to approach the defence of her US Open title.

"You're just starting from scratch. I need to discard any pressures there are from the outside," she said.

"You face the person in front of you and I know people will want to beat me. But I've got to stay on it and stay super focused."

Emma Raducanu and Alize Cornet are waiting patiently to be allowed out on to Louis Armstrong Stadium.

A few practice swings from Raducanu. A few strides for Cornet.

They're due to walk out in a few minutes...

Russell Fuller
Tennis correspondent at Wimbledon

I have definitely noticed differences. She has always been very good in interviews. 95% of the time she has spoken and she always gives pretty good answers but I have seen the stress in her at times. Particularly at the Australian Open and at Indian Wells - she was quite withdrawn, she was struggling with the attention and expectation.

Things have settled down and even though this is still pretty stressful, she feels like she has a lot more stability. She is used to her agents, Will Herbert (her physio) and they have been together a few months.

I think things are looking up but I think it has been very tough indeed.

Of course, considering she's already achieved, as a teenager, something many players fail to in their entire careers, you can appreciate why that may not be playing on her mind too much...

Though it isn't concerning Emma Raducanu, for those that are interested the British number one could fall outside the top 80 if she suffers an early exit in New York this time around.

The world number 11 gained 2,040 of her current total of 2,756 ranking points from her run to the US Open title last year.

Even if she reaches the final, she would drop out of the top 20.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Raducanu isn't the sole star attraction playing tonight.

On Arthur Ashe, Rafael Nadal is starting his campaign against Rinky Hijikata of Australia.

The Spanish second seed is a four-time champion in New York, the most recent of those wins coming in 2019. And with two Grand Slam titles already under his belt in 2022, can he make it a third?

Nadal and Hijikata are about to emerge on court.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a recap of the key stories so far as the first round matches continue on day two at the US Open:

• Britons Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans both reached the second round with straight-set wins;
• Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina lost in the first round, while women's world number one Iga Swiatek progressed;
• Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz reached second round after his opponent Sebastian Baez retired.

Image source, Getty Images

It looks a bit breezy this evening in New York, but Tim Henman has reassured us over on Amazon Prime that the wind can't be felt much down on the court.

Emma Raducanu was out on the practice court for over an hour earlier today despite the humid conditions.

She'll have to wait a little longer to get her campaign under way after the previous match on Louis Armstrong Stadium, which saw Jannik Sinner beat Daniel Altmaier, went the distance.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

Raducanu, in her bid to brush off any expectation, even went as far as saying 'defending a title' is simply a concept concocted by the media.

As she expected and as most young players do, the 19-year-old found the step up to playing full-time on the WTA Tour a demanding experience.

Having seen her momentum regularly disrupted, she has been unable to string together consistent results and has win-loss record of 13-15 this season.

More concerns about her fitness came at Flushing Meadows on Friday, although she insisted a wrist problem was not serious and looked in much better shape when she practised against Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Saturday.

"I think you guys are thinking probably more about pressure and ranking than me," Raducanu told the media on Friday.

"I think defending a title is just something that the press makes up. I'm just taking it one match at a time."