Coco Vandeweghe, the niece of former Knicks player Kiki, moved onto the second round with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over Serbian Aleksandra Krunic. The 22-year-old American, who battled ankle problems earlier in the year, won three qualifier matches just to earn the right to compete in the Open.

Vandeweghe has yet to stick on the WTA Tour, playing World Team Tennis with the Newport Beach Breakers. She has gotten off to a good start at the US Open, however.

“To win your first round is always a good feeling at a Grand Slam and I’m looking forward to the next one,” she said, referring to her second round matchup with 18th-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro, a 6-0, 6-0 winner over American Lauren Davis.

Vandeweghe, who’s uncle Kiki recently served as the Nets’ general manager before the team moved to Brooklyn and now works for the NBA, has enjoyed some of the finer moments of her career in Flushing, winning the juniors crown in 2008 and notching her first career grand slam victory in 2011.

“I always like coming back to New York, I have a lot of family here, I enjoy being back,” she said. “Grand Slams always make you play a little bit better.”

zbraziller@nypost.com