Aryna Sabalenka launched the defence of her US Open title with a victory on Sunday, while Novak Djokovic made a successful start to his latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title – but a disheartened Daniil Medvedev exited the tournament.
World No 1 Sabalenka, aiming to become the first woman to claim back-to-back US Open titles since Serena Williams completed a hat-trick of wins in 2014, had to work hard en route to a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova.
Masarova, ranked 108th in the world, pushed Sabalenka out of her comfort zone with a gutsy performance on the main showcourt at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre.
“I’m happy to get this win and pleased to be in the second round. I feel like I didn’t start my best in the early games, but then I found my rhythm,” said Sabalenka, who will face unseeded Russian Polina Kudermetova next.
While Sabalenka advanced comfortably, Danish 14th seed Clara Tauson was knocked out by Alexandra Eala.
Eala, 20, became the first player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam singles match with a thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13/11) victory, battling back from a 5-1 deficit in the final set.
“I’m absolutely over the moon with what I achieved today, especially coming back in the third,” Eala said. “It’s a very special win for me.”
Another player from Southeast Asia, Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, also caused an upset by defeating Russian 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
“I feel proud to be able to do this for my country,” said Tjen, the first Indonesian since Angelique Widjaja in 2004 to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam singles event.
Tjen, ranked 149th in the world, will face Britain’s Emma Raducanu in the second round.
Raducanu, who made history at Flushing Meadows in 2021 by becoming the first qualifier to lift a Grand Slam title, secured her first US Open match win since that memorable triumph with a 6-1, 6-2 drubbing of Japan’s Ena Shibahara.
“I wanted to win a match here really badly,” said Raducanu. “It’s been four years, and it’s a very special tournament for me.”
