Veronika Erjavec faces Italian Jasmine Paolini in US Open first round

Slovenia's highest-ranked female tennis player, Veronika Erjavec, is set to make her debut at the US Open in New York. She will face Italy's Jasmine Paolini in the first round, a draw that pits the young Slovenian against a seasoned opponent.

Erjavec, who has participated in all three previous Grand Slams this year without advancing past the first round, will be looking to make a mark at Flushing Meadows. Her best Grand Slam performance to date was reaching the second round at Wimbledon in 2025. Paolini, four years Erjavec's senior, holds the world No. 20 ranking and has had a strong 2024 season, reaching two Grand Slam finals in Paris and Wimbledon. Her best showing at the US Open was the fourth round in 2024.

The winner of the Erjavec-Paolini match will face either Ukraine's Dajana Jastremska or a qualifier in the second round. The stakes are significant, with first-round participation earning 120,000 euros and a second-round berth offering over 160,000 euros.

Meanwhile, fellow Slovenian Tamara Zidanšek is also vying for a spot in the main draw and will play her final qualifying match against former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu. Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz are also mentioned, with their respective first-round opponents being Camila Osorio and Roman Safjulin.