Victoria Azarenka makes light work of Lucie Hradecka

Victoria Azarenka has progressed through to the second round of the US Open after easing past Lucie Hradecka.

The 20th seed conceded just three games against the world number 56 as she ran out a 6-1 6-2 winner.

After missing the final weeks of 2014 through injury, Azarenka can make headway up the world rankings if she can defend last year's quarter-final place at Flushing Meadows, and the Belarusian looked focused from the first point against Hradecka.

She broke four times during a one-sided contest to set up a last-64 encounter with either Francesca Schiavone or Yanina Wickmayer.