NEW YORK – Defending champion Arena Sabalenka moved to the second round of the US Open on Sunday after weathering her challenging first set in her first match.
The first-placed player defeated Swiss players Rebeka Masarova 7-5, 6-1, but it wasn’t without a fight. Sabalenka took a break early in the first set and kept her two necks and neck until the defending champions were able to pull away from the 5-5 deadlock.
Sabalenka then ruled the second set, dropping only one game towards the final victory.
“I feel like I didn’t do my best in the first game, but then I found my rhythm,” she said after the victory. “I’m happy with the level I played today.”
She believed she helped the Arthur Ash Stadium crowd through that tight first set.
“I got that set point and you cheered on me, and I got goosebumps while I sat,” Sabalenka said in court. “Your support means a lot to me, and I’m very grateful.”
Since its inception in 2023, Sabalenka has won 59 major matches to lead all women. She aims to be the first woman to successfully defend an American open title since Serena Williams in 2014. This 10 consecutive wins open without consecutive champions on the women’s side. It is the longest since the tournament eliminated the 1912 Challenge Round.
The three-time slam champion has experienced three of the four grand slams this year without a title.
Sabalenka will then face Polina Kudermetova. He became the first player to advance in this year’s tournament when his opponent, Nulia Pariza Diaz, retired after just four games.
Sabalenka defeated Kudermetova in a recent matchup held in Dubai in February.
In the result of other women’s singles on Sunday, Janice Tien defeated No. 24 Veronica Kudametova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, who became the first Indonesian player to win a major match since Angelique Oyjaja at Wimbledon in 2003.
“That means a lot,” Tjen said. “I’m proud to be able to do this for my country. Hopefully, the (my) look here will help to inspire more… I believe that younger kids will play tennis and they can be here too.”
It’s Emma Radkanu waiting for Tjen in the second round. He won the first match in New York since winning the 2021 US Open title, eliminating Ena Shivahara 6-1, 6-2. Raducanu took just 62 minutes to move forward.
US open semi-finalist in 2024, US Emma Navarro faced a tough opening set against Wang Yafan, which lasted 76 minutes before winning 7-6 (9), 6-3, setting up a nationwide second round matchup with Caty McNally.
Other seeded players moving forward were McCartney Kessler (32), Leila Fernandez (31), Jelena Ostapenko (25) and Belinda Bensick (16).
In the night session, a new run from the run to the Cincinnati Open Finals, with eggplant 7 seed Jasmine Paolini passing Desteny Iava 6-2, 7-6 (4) at Louis Armstrong. Paolini has won 25 major match titles since the start of last season. He became the fourth and fourth of the women behind Sabalenka (36), Iga Swiatek (32) and Coco Gauff (27).
American Jessica Pegra, runner-up at the Flushing Meadows last year, faced Mayal Sheriff in his final match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
ESPN research and Associated Press contributed to this report.
