Three New Zealand tennis players have enjoyed success in their opening round doubles matches at the US Open.
Marina Erakovic and her Spanish doubles partner have won their first round womens doubles match.
Marina Erakovic Photo: Photosport
Erakovic and Arantxa Parra Santonja lost the first set 6-2 to a Serbian-Romanian combination before coming back to win in three and the New Zealander says it took them a while to get going.
"I haven't played a doubles match in a long time and Aranxta and I haven't played in a while also, so it takes a little time and the nerves are kicking in just to get a feel of each other playing, but we kept at it and we knew it was going to come."
The two only paired up after Parra Santoja's first partner was forced to withdraw.
They will play the 11th seeds from China in the next round.
Meanwhile Michael Venus and his Croatian partner Mate Pivac scored a straight sets victory over a Chilean-Argentinian combination and will meet the 5th seeds Jean-Julien Roger of the Netherlands and Horia Tecau of Romania in the second round.
Michael Venus (right) and Mate Pavic have won four doubles titles this year. Photo: Photosport
Venus is the highest ranked of the Kiwi doubles players at 39 in the world and he and Pavic have won four ATP doubles titles this year and have been finalists twice.
Marcus Daniell and his American partner Brian Baker beat Malek Jaziri of Tunisia and Hans Pdlipnik-Castillo of Chile in straight sets
The other New Zealander in the doubles draw, Artem Sitak will play his first round clash tomorrow with Dutchman Robin Haase.