NEW YORK – The 2016 US Open got underway on Monday and while there is anticipation for some great matchups in the later rounds, the tournament opened with some compelling first-round matchups.

On the women's side, one fascinating matchup saw former world No. 1 Carolina Wozniacki taking on 20-year-old American Taylor Townsend.

A native of Chicago, Townsend entered Flushing Meadows this week hoping to better her fortunes at the US Open as she fell in the first round in 2014. In fact, Townsend's strongest finish at a grand slam came into 2014 when she reached the third round of the French Open.

On Monday, Townsend got off to a great start against Wozniacki, taking the opening set 6-4. However, the Danish powerhouse was too strong on this day as she fought back to take the tying and deciding sets 6-3 and 6-4 respectively.

One of the biggest keys to Wozniacki's victory was her ability to win more than 65 percent of her points on first serve. She was unable to do this in the opening set but had better luck in the second and third sets as this, in addition to, among other statistics, being successful in 75 percent of her net points won, helped pave the way to the second round. Wozniacki's 26 unforced errors were also minuscule to Townsend's 45.

For Wozniacki, she may not have had the same success that she celebrated in 2010 when she was the world's top seed but her drive and determination remain front-and-center in the 26-year-old's game. In addition, the US Open has been pretty kind to the now world no. 74. Despite having yet to win a grand slam, Wozniacki reached the final at the US Open in 2009 and again in 2014.

Up next, she will face No. 9 seed Svetlana Kuznestova who rolled over Francesca Schiavone 6-1, 6-2 in her first-round match.

A notable opening-round matchup on the men's side saw France's Gael Monfils against the wily veteran from Luxembourg, Gilles Muller, as part of Monday's opening round action.

Monfils, ranked No. 10 in the world, had a tough test against Muller but prevailed anyway, winning 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(7) to advance.

En route to his victory, the Frenchman won a whopping 83 percent of his first serves. He also made very few mistakes, committing just one double fault and 17 unforced errors. Muller, on the other hand, committed 32 unforced errors which were one of the downfalls contributed to his defeat.

Monfils, who turns 30 this Friday, comes to the Big Apple this week with a lot to prove.

While he has established himself as a formidable opponent for anyone on the circuit, Monfils has still yet to win a major. In fact, his best showings at the US Open were quarterfinal appearances in 2010 and 2014. But the Frenchman is having a very good year after a title in Washington and quarterfinal finishes at the Australian Open and most recently in Rio at the Summer Olympics.

Up next for Monfils will be 26-year-old Czech Jan Satral who entered the tournament is ranked world no. 226.

On Monday, Satral needed a comeback effort to defeat American Mackenzie McDonald, winning 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

Satral looked to be down-and-out against this year's NCAA Men's Singles champion but he roared back, shocking the 21-year-old McDonald en route to advancing.

This will be the first-ever meeting between Monfils and Satral.