Federer launches US Open bid against Mayer

Federer is hoping to secure his first US Open title since 2008 against Argentina's Leonardo Mayer at the Arthur Ashe Stadium today.

The 34-year-old Swiss has been in sparkling form this season and heads into the final grand slam event of 2015 buoyed by an impressive hardcourt run in Cincinnati earlier this month.

"Everybody knows it's your last chance to do well at a slam or win a slam," the 17-times grand slam singles champion said of the U.S. Open. "So there are not really easy matches out there. Just want to make sure I get going good at the very beginning."

Also in action at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday will be third-seeded Scot Andy Murray and fifth seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland.

Murray faces controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios, who hit the headlines earlier this month when he insulted opponent Wawrinka during a match in Montreal, saying that Thanasi Kokkinakis had slept with the Swiss player's girlfriend.

Wawrinka, meanwhile, will launch his own U.S. Open title bid with a first-round match against Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

In the US Open women's championship, big-serving Czech Petra Kvitova, the fifth seed, takes on Germany's Laura Siegemund and second-seeded Romanian Simona Halep comes up against Marina Erakovic of New Zealand.