World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated Colombia's Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 in the first round of the US Open women's tournament in New York on August 31.
The top-seeded Belarusian player needed 1 hour and 27 minutes on the hard courts to secure victory in her opening match and launch her title defense, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
Sabalenka entered the tournament as the reigning champion, seeking to win the US Open title for the third consecutive time. Her two-set victory over Osorio, who is currently ranked 59th in the world by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), brought her overall career match record on the hard courts of New York to 20 wins and just one defeat.
Court reaction and New York record
In an interview conducted on the court following her match, Sabalenka said that the New York venue was one of her favourite stadiums and a place where she truly experienced her best emotions. She added that returning to the tournament and earning the chance to compete for a third straight title meant a great deal to her.
The opening win provided a positive turn for the top seed following a difficult period leading up to the final major of the year. Sabalenka arrived in New York after experiencing a series of setback results spanning five months on tour.
The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the annual tennis season, played outdoors on acrylic hard courts at Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York. The women's singles event features a 128-player main draw operating under a single-elimination format across seven rounds of competition.
Second round clash against Polina Yatsenko
In the second round of the tournament, Sabalenka will advance to face 22-year-old Russian competitor Polina Yatsenko.
Yatsenko is currently ranked 160th in the WTA world standings. The Russian player earned her place in the main draw by successfully winning her matches during the qualifying tournament, marking her debut appearance at a Grand Slam event.
To reach the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament, lower-ranked competitors must navigate three consecutive rounds of qualification matches. Making a main-draw debut at Flushing Meadows offers qualifying players both valuable ranking points and their first opportunities to face top-seeded opponents.
The Women's Tennis Association governs the global professional circuit for female players, maintaining world rankings based on points accumulated over a rolling 52-week tournament calendar. Sabalenka currently leads those rankings as the world number one, while Osorio represents Colombia as one of South America's top touring professionals.
