The Serb world No1 was relieved to overcome Russian Vera Dushevina 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in the first round at Flushing Meadows yesterday after a hectic travelling schedule.

''I'm just so thrilled to be here and to have the opportunity to play, because after the Olympics it was obviously very disappointing,'' the 2008 French Open champion, who was forced to withdraw from the Games with the thumb injury, said. ''After Beijing I thought, you know, I might not be able to compete here.

''I really tried to do everything possible for my recovery I even went to Australia to see my doctor and to be able to practice.''

The 20-year-old who has family in Melbourne and uses Australia as a December training base prior to the Australian Open, said that scans and tests ''didn't show any tendon problems''.

''But they found a few cysts that were causing inflammation. The doctor just did lots of treatment to me. He is also a chiropractor, so he fixed my back and my neck, and everything was so connected.''

Olympic silver medallist Dinara Safina and Serena Williams, meanwhile, won their first-round matches in straight sets yesterday.

Safina, who is trying to put a fitting exclamation mark on a superb season, defeated American Kristie Ahn 6-3, 6-4. The 22-year-old has won three titles this year but hasn't made it past the quarter-finals in the US Open.

Two-time champion Serena Williams rolled to an easy 6-1, 6-4 win over Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko.

Sister Venus also move on with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Australian Samantha Stosur.

The women's draw is wide open this year as the last three champions Maria Sharapova, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin are all absent.

Ivanovic had an anxious moment in the third set as she double faulted on her first match point before clinching the victory on her second. She moves to the second round where she will face Julie Coin of France who upset Australian Casey Dellacqua 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4). AFP