A good serve from Billy Harris but it's followed by a loose forehand and that hands over the break at the third opportunity.

Billy Harris saves break point but skews one wide to hand the Canadian 25th seed another chance.

A loopy backhand from Felix Auger-Aliassime saves a second break point before Harris slams into the net to hand over a third bite of the cherry.

A tough start for Billy Harris as Felix Auger-Aliassime earns a break point in the Brit's opening service game.

A routine hold to kick things off for Felix Auger-Aliassime.

This will be a really stern test for Billy Harris. Canadian Auger-Aliassime is pretty much always lingering in or around the world's top 25.

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Jannik Sinner speaking to Sky Sports after his win against Vit Kopriva: "It's a very special tournament, the atmosphere here is amazing. Thanks everyone for coming and cheering and supporting.

"I'm very happy I'm healthy again. We did our best to be in best possible shape and I'm very happy with today's performance.

"Coming back to a Grand Slam where emotions are still running, I'm happy to be here to play against the best players in the world."

Away we go then as Briton Billy Harris makes his US Open main draw debut against the 25th seed.

* denotes server

Image source, Getty Images

For the second year in a row, Britain's Billy Harris lost in the final round of qualifying for the US Open - but unlike last season, the 30-year-old got a fortunate break when a spate of withdrawals earned him a place in the main draw as a lucky loser.

That's where the luck apparently ran out as the Isle of Man player was drawn against 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who reached the semi-finals at the US Open in 2021.

However, since then, Auger-Aliassime has won just one match at Flushing Meadows, and has been upset in the first round in each of the past two years.

Harris, who famously used to travel the tennis circuit in a camper van, won his first match at a Grand Slam at Wimbledon earlier this summer - and has his eyes firmly fixed on another victory, which would be the biggest win of his career.

"I'm very happy that I'm healthy again," says Jannik Sinner in his on-court interview. "We did our best to be in the best possible shape here so I'm very happy about today's match, today's performance."

A routine win for the world number one, who spent an hour and 38 minutes on court.

Any of his rivals who were hoping he might still be affected by the illness that saw him retire in the Cincinnati final will have be disappointed watching that match.

Up next on Stadium 17, Briton Billy Harris takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime in his first-round match.

A tough one for the 30-year-old. We'll bring you the latest from that one.

Russell Fuller
Tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

We would expect nothing less than a business-like performance from Jannik Sinner in the first week of a Grand Slam. It is always going to be pretty tough for anybody who challenges him.

Vit Kopriva at least gets his first experience of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, but he couldn't find any answers for Sinner today.

Image source, Getty Images

Naomi Broady
Former British player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

I just don't see who is going to stop Jannik Sinner.

He was already my pick for the tournament, which wasn't a very creative pick from me but it is a pretty safe bet I think.

Image source, Getty Images

Jannik Sinner goes for glory on his first match point, just missing, but then flashes a backhand down the line to complete a very comfortable first-round win.

The gulf in class between the world number one and the world number 89 was very evident.

Sinner has begun his title defence - one match down, six to go.

Naomi Broady
Former British player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

I'm just keeping my eyes on Jannik Sinner's grip here. If his blisters get too bad, he will start getting little spots of red blood on his white grip but that hasn't happened as of yet. I think that will be a good sign.

It almost feels like he is allowing himself to very quickly move through his final few gears here. He maybe didn't want to do it the whole match, but he has started to take the ball far inside the baseline on the return in the last few points.

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The trainer again comes out to look at Jannik Sinner's finger. He has taken the tape off his finger and seemingly just wants a dusting of talc to stop the finger from sticking to his racquet.

But it doesn't impede the world number one as he steers his way to match point on Kopriva's serve.

Jannik Sinner seems a bit bothered by the tape on his finger, and perhaps that minor loss of concentration contributes to him going 0-30 down on his serve

And then a lovely passing shot from Vit Kopriva sets the Czech player up with his first break points of the match.

But Sinner saves them both, and is now one game from victory.

Image source, Getty Images

Naomi Broady
Former British player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

Vit Kopriva's mindset should hopefully have been to take some risks against Jannik Sinner today, but that should be the case even more so now.

He is going down so he should just shut his eyes and have a few swings. He has been out on court for almost an hour and a half, so he will be used to the feel of the ball and the speed coming off Jannik Sinner's racquet now.

Vit Kopriva holds serve to prolong the match a bit longer - but probably not much longer.

Vit Kopriva is looking a bit despondent now.

The Czech player commits a couple of unforced errors - one forehand and one backhand - and Jannik Sinner holds to love, and is now just two games away from a place in the second round.

Naomi Broady
Former British player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

I just hope this match doesn't totally knock Vit Kopriva for the rest of the year.

You get totally skewed feedback from your shots against Jannik Sinner. Kopriva is probably playing slightly better than usual but he just isn't getting any payoff because of who is down the other end of the court.

If you hit a good shot and then a winner flies past, you start to think that maybe you're not playing well and you kind of search for more answers. He just doesn't know where else to go in this match.

Image source, Getty Images

I say we are still on serve, but it's not long before we are no longer on serve.

Jannik Sinner is just stepping in and taking Vit Kopriva's serve early, putting huge pressure on his opponent, who seems to have to play another shot before he's even finished his service motion.

Kopriva shanks three shots to give Sinner two break points, and then double-faults.

The world number one has the first break of the set.