US Open tennis: The best images from Flushing Meadows

Fans at the Billie Jean King tennis centre in the Queens borough of New York City watch the opening ceremony of the 2010 tournament Photograph: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Flags are displayed on court shortly before a huge fireworks display Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Fans relax in the stands as the sun sets over the early matches Photograph: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters

Roger Federer is the main attraction on the opening night. The former world No1 serves to Brian Dabul of Argentina Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Federer produces a stunning between-the-legs shot in the third set which beats his opponent and lands in the far corner of the court - a shot reminiscent of his winner against Novak Djokovic in the 2009 semi-final. Federer went on to win the match 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 Photograph: Henny Ray Abrams/AP

French footballer Thierry Henry and French basketball player Ronny Turiaf watch the action, Henry having recently signed for the New York Red Bulls Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Venus Williams, the two-time US Open winner, beat Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-1 in the first round Photograph: Mehdi Taamallah/PA

Fading sunlight made for spectacular photographs as Edina Gallovits of Romania played Marion Bartoli of France Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

The Manhattan skyline is illuminated in the distance as the first day's play draws to a close Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

Britain's Anne Keothavong crashed out in three sets to Yung-Jan Chan of Taiwan on day two of the tournament. Keothavong won the opening set only to lose 2-6, 6-1, 6-1 Photograph: Frank Franklin II/AP

Russia's Maria Sharapova needed three sets to beat Jarmila Groth Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

Sharapova's first serve has troubled her in recent seasons and was as flawed as ever against Groth, but she still beat the rising Aussie star 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Kristof Vliegen of Belgium hits an awkward return to James Blake of the US. Blake won in straight sets Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

A ballboy holds a tennis ball at the match between Coco Vandeweghe of the US and Germany's Sabine Lisicki Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA

Fabio Fognini of Italy reaches for a return against Fernando Verdasco of Spain. Verdasco, the eighth seed, won in five sets Photograph: Nick Laham/Getty Images

Crowd favourite Rafael Nadal tends to his weathered left foot during a break in the first set of his first-round match against Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Nadal needed to win two tie breaks to secure a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images