Sabalenka Starts U.S. Open Defence as Fils Exit Opens Men’s Draw Further

Aryna Sabalenka began her bid for a third consecutive U.S. Open title with a controlled 6-2, 6-4 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The world number one struck 32 winners and closed out the match in straight sets. Sabalenka has not reached a final since March, but she said she was pleased with her performance against an opponent who made her work for every point. She will face Russian Polina Iatcenko in the second round.

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I’m happy with my performance. She’s a tough opponent, makes you work really hard to get every point.

The men’s draw suffered another notable departure when Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated 10th seed Arthur Fils, the recent Cincinnati champion, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1, 6-4. Tsitsipas will next play South African Lloyd Harris. Fils’s loss followed Novak Djokovic’s shock defeat the previous evening.

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So I’m happy that I was able to close the match in straight sets.

Other winners included seventh-seeded Karolina Muchova, who beat Austria’s Sinja Kraus 6-3, 6-0, and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, who overcame Kristina Liutova 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Muchova will meet Britain’s Katie Boulter, while Zheng advanced to the next round after coming through qualifying.

Amanda Anisimova defeated fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 6-3 in one hour and 12 minutes. Playing on her 25th birthday, last year’s runner-up saved three early break points and will next face Austria’s Lilli Tagger. Seven matches suspended by rain on Sunday resumed Monday under the tournament’s expanded first-round schedule.

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Ashlyn’s a great player so I knew it was going to be a tough match.