Simona Halep & Garbine Muguruza were two-time Grand Slam champions, who had their problems in New York. They won tough two-set wins Monday in the U.S. Open’s opening round.

Sloane Stephens had another challenge, and needed 2 hours, 10 mins to beat Madison Keys, 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (7), in a rematch from her 2017 final victory.

Arthur Ashe Stadium was not full for the start of the match. This may have been due to fans experiencing delays in entering the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center the day they were allowed back into the tournament.

Halep, who was eliminated in the first round of both the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Opens, had two consecutive exits. Opens defeated Camila Giorgi, 6-4, 7-6 (3). Last year’s fan-less event was not attended by her.

Halep stated, “So for me it wasn’t unusual to have people in the stands and the loud noise that is always at the U.S. Open.” It was something I liked. These are the things I embrace. I had a lot of fun at court and liked people who screamed in Romanian and English.”

Muguruza, No. Muguruza, the No. 9 seed, won with a 7-6(4), 7-6(5) win over Donna Vekic.

These were the two earliest victories of the tournament, which was played without spectators last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The grounds were packed all day, and again at night when Naomi Osaka, the defending champion in women’s wrestling, played her first round match.

However, spectators complained about delays that the U.S. Tennis Association claimed were due to the time required for bags to be inspected.

The USTA stated in a statement that “patrons have brought an excessive number of bags this past year, all which must be searched.” This is the main entry point.

The USTA stated that it was looking at ways to improve the entry process for the remaining tournament. It also said that the USTA was ensuring that all vaccinations were properly documented and that this was not a contributing factor to the delays.

With a left calf injury, Halep missed Wimbledon and the French Open. Her return to Grand Slam tennis was at the point where she had the least success.

Kaia Kanepi lost to her in 2018. This was the first time that the No. The No. 1 seed was defeated in the first round at the U.S. Open. This was the first time that the No. After that loss, she admitted that New York’s noise wasn’t for her. Monday was back with all the sounds and the stands were allowed to fill to capacity.

Halep stated, “I lost a few rounds here, so I got some of the experience from those times.” There is no other way. It is the only way. It must be something I like and a part of.

Players had to adjust to long lines and large crowds. Keys was forced to wait midway through her second match because fans weren’t able to return to their seats in time for a changeover.

Halep was again in danger against Giorgi, an Italian player who won the Montreal hard-court title for the largest victory of her career. The No. The No. 12 seed was lost at 5-4 while serving, but he recovered to win the last four points of the tiebreaker.

Muguruza also won Wimbledon and the French Open, but she has not reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open. Two years ago, she was eliminated in the first round.

She held her own in tiebreakers against Vekic and reached the quarterfinals of 2019

No. 5 Andrey Rublev beat Ivo Karlovic 6-3 7-6 (3),6-3 and No. 11 seed Diego Schwartzman beat Ricardas Berankis in straight sets.