Opening round wins for Routliffe and Venus

Two wins from two matches on day three at the US Open as Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus progressed to the second round of their respective doubles draws.

Sixteenth seeds Erin Routliffe and regular Polish doubles partner, Alicia  Rosolska defeated Germany’s Vivian Heisen and Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in one hour 34 minutes in blustery conditions. 

On the next-door court Venus and Germany's Tim Puetz, the men's fourth seeds had a tough encounter against Andrey Golubev and Spaniard Pedro Martinez.

After a tight start the Kiwi and German fought back well to win 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours 13 minutes. 

Venus will play again on day four with a first round mixed doubles match with Australian Ellen Perez against Laura Siegemund from Germany and Scot Jamie Murray