Stosur off the mark in New York

Reigning champion Sam Stosur began the defence of her Women's US Open title in style in New York City on Monday.

The tough Australian took the first 19 points in a one-sided 6-1 6-1 victory against Croatia's Petra Martic at Arthur Ashe Stadium and will now face either Edina Gallovits-Hall of Romania or Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele in the second round. Stosur was a shock winner in Queens against home fancy Serena Williams last year and is seeded seventh to repeat her Flushing Meadows success having failed to build on her Grand Slam breakthrough. The 28-year-old needed just 51 minutes to clinch victory on Monday in a match which she produced 22 winners, 10 aces and did not face a single break point. Stosur will be anxious to improve on a poor record in 2012 of bombing out of the Australian Open in her home country in the first round, the first round of the London Olympics and second round of Wimbledon.