US Open: Aryana Sabalenka Overpowers Rebeka Masarova To Reach Second Round

Last Updated:August 25, 2025, 09:01 IST

Aryna Sabalenka began her US Open title defence with a win over Rebeka Masarova.

Aryna Sabalenka (AFP)

Aryna Sabalenka began her defence of the US Open title with a win on Sunday. The world number one, aiming to be the first woman to secure back-to-back US Open titles since Serena Williams achieved three consecutive wins in 2014, had to work hard for a 7-5, 6-1 victory against Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova.

Masarova, ranked 108th in the world, challenged Sabalenka with a determined performance on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium court at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

“Happy to get this win and happy to be in the second round. I feel like I didn’t start my best in the first games, but then I found my rhythm," said Sabalenka, who will face unseeded Russian Polina Kudermetova in the second round.

While Sabalenka moved forward, Danish 14th seed Clara Tauson was defeated by Alexandra Eala.

Eala, 20, became the first player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam singles match, securing a thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13/11) victory, coming back from a 5-1 deficit in the final set to advance.

“I’m super over the moon with what I was able to do today, especially coming back in the third," Eala said. “It’s a very special win for me."

Another Southeast Asian player, Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, also achieved an upset by eliminating Russian 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to progress.

“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.

Meanwhile, Raducanu, who made history at Flushing Meadows in 2021 by becoming the first qualifier to lift 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 wanted to win a match here really badly," said Raducanu.

“It’s been four years, and it’s a very special tournament for me."

With men’s defending champion Jannik Sinner and rival Carlos Alcaraz not opening their first-round campaigns until Monday and Tuesday, all eyes were on the veteran Serbian star Djokovic in Sunday night’s session on Ashe.

The 38-year-old showed flashes of brilliance in a 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 win against his unseeded 19-year-old American opponent Learner Tien.

Djokovic raced through the first set but was then forced to save a set point in the second after Tien grew in confidence.

A lengthy medical time out to treat what looked like a blister on his right foot helped revive Djokovic and he pulled away to wrap up victory in 2hr 25min.

(With AFP Inputs)

Aakash Biswas

A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had ...Read More

A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had ...

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First Published:

August 25, 2025, 09:01 IST

News sports US Open: Aryana Sabalenka Overpowers Rebeka Masarova To Reach Second Round

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