Aryna Sabalenka launched the defence of her U.S. Open crown with a victory on Sunday (August 24, 2025) whereas Novak Djokovic made a profitable begin to his newest bid for a file twenty fifth Grand Slam singles title.
World primary Sabalenka, who’s bidding to grow to be the primary lady to assert back-to-back U.S. Open titles since Serena Williams accomplished a hat-trick of wins in 2014, was made to work arduous en path to a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova.
Masarova, ranked 108th on the earth, pushed Sabalenka out of her consolation zone with a gutsy efficiency on the Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Middle’s fundamental Arthur Ashe Stadium showcourt.
“Completely satisfied to get this win and joyful to be within the second spherical. I really feel like I didn’t begin my finest within the first video games, however then I discovered my rhythm,” stated Sabalenka, who will face unseeded Russian Polina Kudermetova within the second spherical.
Whereas Sabalenka superior safely, Danish 14th seed Clara Tauson tumbled out to Alexandra Eala.
Eala, 20, grew to become the primary participant from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam singles match with an exhilarating 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13/11) win, battling again from a 5-1 deficit within the closing set to advance.
“I’m tremendous over the moon with what I used to be in a position to do right this moment, particularly coming again within the third,” Eala stated.
“It’s a really particular win for me.”
One other participant from Southeast Asia — Indonesia’s Janice Tjen — additionally bagged an upset, ousting Russian twenty fourth seed Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to maneuver on.
“I really feel proud to have the ability to do that for my nation,” stated Tjen, the primary Indonesian since Angelique Widjaja in 2004 to succeed in the primary draw of a Grand Slam singles occasion.
Tjen, ranked 149th on the earth, will face Britain’s Emma Raducanu within the second spherical.
Djokovic off the mark
Raducanu, who made historical past at Flushing Meadows in 2021 by turning into the primary qualifier to raise a Grand Slam title, clinched her first US Open match win since that memorable triumph with a 6-1, 6-2 drubbing of Japan’s Ena Shibahara.
“I wished to win a match right here actually dangerous,” stated Raducanu.
“It’s been 4 years, and it’s a really particular match for me.”
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates his first spherical win on the U.S. Open tennis championship on August 24, 2025.
| Photograph Credit score:
AP
With males’s defending champion Jannik Sinner and rival Carlos Alcaraz not opening their first-round campaigns till Monday (August 25, 2025) and Tuesday (August 26, 2025), all eyes had been on the veteran Serbian star Djokovic in Sunday’s night time session on Ashe.
The 38-year-old confirmed flashes of brilliance in a 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win towards his unseeded 19-year-old American opponent Learner Tien.
Djokovic raced by the primary set however was then compelled to save lots of a set level within the second after Tien grew in confidence.
A prolonged medical day out to deal with what regarded like a blister on his proper foot helped revive Djokovic and he pulled away to wrap up victory in 2hr 25min.
“Nice to be again in New York,” Djokovic stated. “I want I had Learner Tien’s age — whenever you come to the late 30s it’s about studying tips on how to protect the power for what issues.
“I nonetheless have the aptitude, I nonetheless have the drive, and also you guys give me the power,” he advised the group. “Hopefully I can hold it going.”
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz and sixth seed Ben Shelton eased into the second spherical.
Fritz, final yr’s overwhelmed finalist and a semi-finalist at Wimbledon final month, received 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 towards unseeded compatriot Emilio Nava.
Shelton had a equally comfy 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse.
Shelton and Fritz are spearheading US hopes of a primary Grand Slam males’s singles title since Andy Roddick’s victory on the 2003 US Open.
Shelton insisted he was not wanting past the second spherical, the place he’ll face Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.
“As quickly as you begin wanting forward, you stumble over your individual ft. So only one recreation at a time,” he stated.
Czech sixteenth seed Jakub Mensik edged Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-4 and Spanish 18th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina breezed previous Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.
Italy’s thirty second seed Luciano Darderi eradicated Australia’s Rinky Hijikata 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.
Revealed – August 25, 2025 08:49 am IST
