Barty dominated the first set, but the match tightened up in the early stages of the second before she prevailed 6-1, 6-4 in 69 minutes. The 17-year-old's second singles victory in her three majors this season complements some outstanding doubles results - including two finals - with partner Casey Dellacqua.

"It's nice to get a second win, and I love playing at the US Open, so it was nice to get a win here as well," Barty said.

"I know that if I play my best I can beat anybody, really, and I was happy with the way I played today, so I'm just looking forward to my second round in the next couple of days."

Doubles, she said, had provided invaluable experience, but grand slam singles, "that's where you want to perform your best, and I've had a good last couple of slams, so I'm really happy with the way I've been playing, and it was nice to go back to Melbourne for a couple of months and just refresh a little bit and recharge, and I feel really good".

Barty will next play Russian 32nd seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who eliminated Virginie Razzano in straight sets, and conceded just two games to Barty in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year in their only previous meeting.

"She really taught me a lesson, but I'm just looking forward to it, and I'm sure I'll speak to (coach Jason Stoltenberg) over the next couple of days," she said. "So I'll just prepare the best I can and give it a go."

In other day one results, men's title favourite Rafael Nadal opened impressively, conceding just eight games to American Ryan Harrison on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Nadal has compiled a 53-4 record in 2013 since his return from seven months sidelined with a knee injury, and has completed the expected first step towards a potential quarter-final meeting with seventh seed Roger Federer.

Australia's day one ledger was balanced at 2-2 by the expected losses of 18-year-old qualifier Nick Kyrgios (in three sets to fourth seed David Ferrer) and 28-year-old Victorian Marinko Matosevic (to No.19 Tommy Robredo in four). Matosevic is still without a grand slam match win in 11 torturous attempts, and despite the positive recent influence of coach Mark Woodforde, was again unable to achieve the breakthrough he both wants and needs.