Maria Sharapova made a show-stopping return to grand slam tennis by upsetting second seed Simona Halep in the opening round of the US Open.
The first-round blockbuster certainly lived up to the hype under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Sharapova ultimately overpowering Halep to win 6-4 4-6 6-3.
The 2006 champion had looked set to win in straight sets when she led 4-1 in the second only to let it slip but recovered to clinch a dramatic victory after two hours and 44 minutes.
Sharapova dropped to her knees after clinching victory and then sat and sobbed on her chair, her face a picture of disbelief.
Addressing the crowd, the 30-year-old said: "I just thought this was another day, another opportunity, another match but this was so much more and I didn't want to think about it. We put in all the work and this is exactly why."
Shania Twain headlined the opening ceremony immediately before the contest on a platform shaped like a tennis racket, but there was no upstaging Sharapova.
Snubbed by the French Open and then injured for Wimbledon, where she would have had to fight her way through qualifying, Sharapova was controversially given a wild card for the US Open.
If there were dissenters among the crowd, they kept their thoughts to themselves as Sharapova strode onto court in a black sequined dress with cheers ringing in her ears.
She had beaten Halep in all six of their previous meetings but this time came in as the firm underdog having played just four tournaments since the end of her 15-month doping ban in April.
Injuries have been her nemesis and she had managed only one match in more than three months.
But from the start it was clear Sharapova was fit and in the mood to write headlines on the court at last.
Title favourite Garbine Muguruza [above] raced into the second round of the US Open.
The Wimbledon champion has established herself as the current leading lady of the women's tour, following up her London triumph by winning in Cincinnati last weekend.
Muguruza opened proceedings on the Arthur Ashe Court and needed just 63 minutes to defeat American Varvara Lepchenko 6-0 6-3.
The Spaniard has struggled in New York previously and has already matched her best result - although her hopes, of course, extend much further.
When asked about her confidence, Muguruza said: "I think it's a high level, of course. I got big wins recently, and a lot of matches in a row that I felt I was playing good and that I won.
"I just thought with the matches that I played in the past tournaments (at the US Open), I just think it didn't go my way, as simple as that, because I always come prepared and happy."
Petra Kvitova [above] found things tougher against Jelena Jankovic but secured a confidence-boosting 7-5 7-5 victory.
The Czech 12th seed initially flourished on her comeback from the horrific hand injuries she suffered when an intruder attacked her with a knife at her home last December.
But perhaps inevitably she has found it harder since a dream run to the title at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham in June.
Kvitova had won only four matches in five events since, and she said: "Every day is just different, and I just try to find a way to get better. I know that not every day is the best day.
"Of course, I wanted to have more matches coming here, but on the other hand, I'm really glad that I'm here."
Ninth seed Venus Williams was given a scare by Slovakian qualifier Viktoria Kuzmova but recovered from losing the second set to win 6-3 3-6 6-2.
There was a shock when Britain’s Johanna Konta lost to Aleksandra Krunic in the first round, the 26-year-old world number seven going down 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
"Of course, I wanted to have more matches coming here, but on the other hand, I'm really glad that I'm here.
"Things like seeing other players, seeing coaches, being on the tennis court, practising with other girls, that feels more normal than before. Matches are already normal but it's still very special and I'm still very grateful for it.
"My hand is progressing and I hope one day everything will be perfect."
Ninth seed Venus Williams was given a scare by Slovakian qualifier Viktoria Kuzmova but recovered from losing the second set to win 6-3 3-6 6-2.
There was a shock when Britain’s Johanna Konta lost to Aleksandra Krunic in the first round, the 26-year-old world number seven going down 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
