NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic admitted Monday that they miss old sparring partner Roger Federer who was forced to skip the US Open for the first time since 1999.

Federer, the winner of a record 17 majors and a five-time champion in New York, shut down his season to rest a knee injury which was aggravated in a semi-final loss at Wimbledon.

“Roger today is having the same injury issues, so I wish him a fast recovery,” Nadal said after beating Denis Istomin to make the second round.

Nadal had come into the tournament under an injury cloud after a serious wrist problem had forced an early withdrawal from the French Open as well as an absence from Wimbledon.

“It is very tough to see the players outside of the tour. The fans miss the players, the tour needs the players,” added the Spaniard.

World number one Djokovic, who beat Federer to win a second US Open last year, also felt sympathy for the 35-year-old Swiss.

“It's not the same when you don't have Roger for the tournament, for the fans. He's been one of the most popular players of all time, one of the most successful players of all time,” said the Serb, a first round winner over Jerzy Janowicz on Monday.

“There is no doubt that every tournament is missing him.

“But on the other hand, we have got to focus on the players that we have at the moment. So I think even without him, it's a very strong field. I'm sure it's going to be a good tournament.”

Djokovic beats scare, Nadal eases at revamped US Open

Defending champion Djokovic overcame an arm injury scare and long-time rival Nadal shone in 33-degree heat as the US Open showcased its $650 million upgrade on Monday.

World number one Djokovic, also the 2011 winner in New York and chasing his third major of the year, defeated Janowicz of Poland 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 champion and seeded to face Djokovic in the semi-finals, eased to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Istomin of Uzbekistan.

In the women's event, second seeded Angelique Kerber, the Australian Open champion, needed just 33 minutes to progress but Roland Garros winner Garbine Muguruza required three sets and a visit from the doctor before she survived.

Djokovic had admitted that he was “not 100 percent” after suffering a wrist injury on the eve of the Olympics where he was a first-round loser.

But it was the upper right arm that bothered the Serb on Monday night as he played his first Grand Slam match since his shock third round exit at Wimbledon.

The 29-year-old needed treatment after just five games of the first set but eventually pulled through against Janowicz who had played just two matches all year due to a knee injury.

“It was hard to follow Phil Collins,” joked Djokovic in reference to the lengthy opening ceremony which featured the veteran English rocker under the new $150 million roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

On his arm injury, Djokovic added: “It's never easy to play at this level throughout the year. There are periods where you aren't 100 percent.” Djokovic next faces Jiri Vesely, the Czech who knocked him out of Monte Carlo this year.

Nadal's reward for a fifth win in five meetings with Istomin is a match-up with Italian veteran Andreas Seppi.

A wrist injury forced the Spaniard into an early retirement at the French Open and sidelined him from Wimbledon before a gold medal run in the doubles at the Olympics helped ease his misery.

“The most important thing is that I am here in New York. Injuries are part of the career. I had a hard time this year,” said the fourth seed.

Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic, the runner-up to Andy Murray at Wimbledon, overcame German dangerman Dustin Brown 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

Kerber needed just over 30 minutes to get her pursuit of a first US Open title off to a winning start. The German was leading Polona Hercog 6-0, 1-0 when the Slovenian called it quits having won just nine points.

Kerber, a semi-finalist in 2011, next faces Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia.

Muguruza carved out a gritty 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 win over Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens, ranked at 137. But the French Open champion needed courtside treatment from a doctor after dropping the first set.

Doctor's orders

The consultation certainly worked as she reeled off the next seven games to lay the foundation for her win.

Muguruza plays Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia for a place in the last 32.

French 13th seed Richard Gasquet, a semi-finalist three years ago, was the day's biggest casualty. He went down to 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to British world number 84 Kyle Edmund.

Also exiting was Olympic champion Monica Puig with the Puerto Rican losing 6-4, 6-2 to China's Zheng Saisai.

Kayla Day, just 16 and ranked at a lowly 374 in the world, was 6-2, 4-2 up on Madison Brengle when her fellow American quit with an injury.

Croatian seventh seed Marin Cilic, the 2014 champion and winner in Cincinnati last week, eased past Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-4, 7-5, 6-1.

Flamboyant French 10th seed Gael Monfils took his summer hardcourt record to 15-2 with a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 win over Gilles Muller of Luxemburg.

Monfils almost suffered a freak accident when a giant courtside clock fell towards him as he collided with the back wall, chasing down a Muller shot.

The Flushing Meadows complex has been radically and expensively remodelled for this year.

However, the old Grandstand court, due to be demolished after the tournament, was pressed into action after the new Court 10 was deemed unplayable.