As Alexei Popyrin set up a showcourt showdown with defending champion and world No.1 Jannik Sinner, de Minaur had his game face well and truly on in dispatching fellow Sydneysider Chris O'Connell in straight sets.
The two-time Open quarter-finalist did not face a solitary break point in ousting O'Connell 6-3 6-4 6-4 on the Grandstand on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
"It's good to get the ball rolling," de Minaur said.
"By no means did I expect perfect tennis and I'm happy to get through. It was a difficult match against a fellow teammate.
"I'm just looking to build on that, but over the years New York has treated me very well and I've played very well on these courts."
De Minaur's reward is a second-round meeting with Japanese qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki, the world No.112.
Popyrin needed just over two hours to see off Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-3) and set up a heavyweight stoush with the top-seeded Sinner.
After taking out the great Novak Djokovic en route to the last-16 last year, Popyrin has the backing of de Minaur to potentially conjure another huge boilover to stay alive at the final grand slam of 2025.
"I've always felt like 'Pop' is a big-time player, a big-match player, he's enjoyed these big matches over the years," de Minaur said.
"Last year he beat Novak in a night match. It was pretty special, and I would say it's the toughest task in tennis right now (playing Sinner), but he's going to be able to go out there and have a swing.
"He's dangerous because he's got big weapons. He can take the racquet our of your hands."
Tristan Schoolkate vindicated his wildcard entry with a valiant five-set victory over world No.46 Lorenzo Sonego.
Schoolkate looked headed for the exit gates after dropping the third and fourth sets in quickfire fashion, before fighting back to prevail 6-3 7-6 (10-8) 1-6 1-6 7-6 (10-6) in an epic encounter that stretched four hours and 18 minutes.
In matching his second-round foray last year, Schoolkate will bid for a place in the last 32 of a grand slam for the first time when he faces 24th seed Alexander Bublik next.
Fellow Australian Maya Joint continued her extraordinary 2025 success story, with the fearless teen successfully negotiating her opening clash.
Having lost her previous three first-round matches at this year's grand slams - the only negatives in a brilliant two-title season for the 19-year-old - Joint was delighted to get past Andorran qualifier Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 6-4 7-6 (8-6).
The US-born world No.43, who made her first big mark here last year when she reached the second round, has rocketed up the rankings since she started the 2024 campaign at No.684, with her experienced BJK Cup teammate Ajla Tomljanovic saying there's no ceiling to what she might achieve.
Joint's victory set up a second-round clash with Wimbledon finalist and American No.8 seed Amanda Anisimova, who eliminated another Australian Kim Birrell 6-3 6-2 on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Joint will seek to upset Anisimova and reach the third round of a slam for the first time in her fledgling career, another high point in a season when she's won her first tournaments, on clay at the Morocco Open and on grass at Eastbourne.
Tomljanovic did her damnedest to give Australia nine players in the second round, only to succumb 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 to US third seed Coco Gauff, the 2023 champion, in the feature women's night match.
Jordan Thompson, Adam Walton, Daria Kasatkina and Priscilla Hon are the first Australians in second-round action on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
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