Aryna Sabalenka has clinched a spot in round two of the US Open after defeating Rebeka Masarova in round one.
WTA Tour number one Sabalenka is the top seed at the hard-court Grand Slam, which she won this time last year.
The Belarusian defeated American Jessica Pegula in the 2024 US Open final, and has continued her winning run in New York with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Masarova.
Sabalenka has been told to clear her mind entering the tournament, which she takes on following a quarterfinal exit at the Cincinnati Open.
She has reached two Grand Slam finals in the 2025 season so far, but lost those matches at the Australian Open and French Open.
Aryna Sabalenka messages US Open fans after first round win
American players emerged victorious on both occasions, with Madison Keys winning the former and Coco Gauff winning the latter.
Sabalenka also has a 2023 US Open final defeat to Gauff in her past, but is currently celebrating success in Queens.
She wrote on Instagram after her opening win: “NYC, thank you for the warm welcome. I’m so happy to be back on this court, you gave me goosebumps.”
How could Aryna Sabalenka’s world number one ranking change at the US Open?
Sabalenka truly is a formidable force at the US Open and on hard courts in general, having also won the Australian Open twice.
And she has taken no time in once again making it into the second round of the tournament, defeating Masarova in just 81 minutes.
The world number one impressed with five of six break chances converted, while she hit 19 winners throughout the match.
Sabalenka now meets Polina Kudermetova in round two, with the latter having progressed after Nuria Parrizas-Diaz retired during their meeting at 2-2 in the first set.
| Rank | Player | Age | Tournaments played | Points |
| 1 | Aryna Sabalenka | 27 | 18 | 11,225 |
| 2 | Iga Swiatek | 24 | 16 | 7,933 |
| 3 | Coco Gauff | 21 | 19 | 7,874 |
| 4 | Jessica Pegula | 31 | 22 | 4,903 |
| 5 | Mirra Andreeva | 18 | 19 | 4,733 |
| 6 | Madison Keys | 30 | 19 | 4,699 |
| 7 | Qinwen Zheng | 22 | 18 | 4,433 |
| 8 | Jasmine Paolini | 29 | 19 | 4,116 |
| 9 | Amanda Anisimova | 23 | 21 | 3,869 |
| 10 | Elena Rybakina | 26 | 21 | 3,663 |
The Belarusian secured her third Grand Slam singles title at Flushing Meadows in 2024, and will remain top of the WTA rankings with a quarterfinal run.
But if she doesn’t reach that stage, Iga Swiatek or Coco Gauff could become world number one by lifting the trophy.
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