| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 August-10 September |
| Protection: Each day dwell textual content and radio commentaries throughout the BBC Sport web site, app, BBC Radio 5 Stay and 5 Sports activities Additional |
Iga Swiatek started her US Open title defence with an emphatic first-round victory as eighth seed Maria Sakkari fell to a shocking loss.
World primary Swiatek breezed to a 6-0 6-1 win over Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson in 58 minutes.
Sakkari had a day to overlook on Court docket 17 as she fell 6-4 6-4 to world quantity 71 Rebeka Masarova of Spain.
Elsewhere, Beatriz Haddad Maia beat 2017 champion Sloane Stephens and Elena Rybakina cruised into the second spherical.
Rybakina beat Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1 regardless of struggling within the build-up to the event with a shoulder damage.
Dwelling favorite Coco Gauff will play within the night time session on Arthur Ashe Stadium, whereas Caroline Wozniacki makes her return to Grand Slam tennis on Louis Armstrong.
Gauff, Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka, who performs on Tuesday are among the many favourites to problem Swiatek for the title in New York.
I used to be pleased on the courtroom – Swiatek
Swiatek has received each earlier conferences with world quantity 86 Peterson and got here by means of this encounter on Arthur Ashe Stadium in imperious fashion.
The 22-year-old Pole, who’s bidding to win her fifth Grand Slam title, will face Daria Saville of Australia within the second spherical.
Swiatek stated: “I wished to begin the event with every part I used to be specializing in. I used to be pleased to play a fantastic sport, with all of the stress and expectations, I used to be pleased on the courtroom.
“I really feel like every part that is occurring round us is taking away our consideration and what we need to obtain with our video games and careers.
“I need to remind myself that I need to develop as a participant. The numbers and stats do not actually matter to me. I am simply attempting to concentrate on my efficiency.”
Sakkari shocked and Rybakina by means of
Greece’s Sakkari grew to become the primary prime 10 participant to fall within the ladies’s draw.
Sakkari raced to a 4-1 lead within the first set however her unseeded opponent Masarova responded in high-quality vogue handy Sakkari her third consecutive first-round Grand Slam loss.
“If I performed 5 or 10% higher I might have received this match. These are the matches I’ve to win, these are the matches I can’t lose,” Sakkari stated.
“There have been too many for my stage this 12 months. It’s unlucky. I believed I might flip it round right here however I used to be incorrect. I’ve not a lot to say, I am sorry.”
American Stephens, champion in 2017, was crushed by Brazilian nineteenth seed Haddad Maia 6-2 5-7 6-4 with 5 breaks traded in an exciting deciding set on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Haddad Maia, a semi-finalist on the French Open, is thru to the second spherical at Flushing Meadows for simply the second time.
There have been extra routine wins for different seeded gamers on the opening day.
Victoria Azarenka made mild work of Frenchwoman Fiona Ferro of their match on the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The 18th seed, who reached the US Open remaining in 2012, 2013 and 2020, wrapped up a complete 6-1 6-2 victory over the world 190.
Elsewhere, Czech tenth seed Karolina Muchova clinched a 6-4 6-0 win over Storm Sanders of Australia, whereas fifteenth seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland eased previous Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2 6-4.
And unseeded American Danielle Collins, finalist eventually 12 months’s Australian Open, defeated Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2 6-0.
Former Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady received a match at a Grand Slam for the primary time since 2021.
The American has struggled with accidents over the previous two years however claimed a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win over Australian Kimberly Birrell.
‘Swiatek not the identical, so may very well be Coco’s 12 months’ – evaluation
Regardless of the spectacular begin made by Swiatek in her opening match, BBC Sport tennis professional and former British primary Annabel Croft has determined to look past the defending champion for this 12 months’s winner.
Croft has as a substitute tipped American Gauff, who faces Laura Siegemund in her opening match on day two, to go all the best way.
“Iga Swiatek will not be wanting fairly the participant she was final 12 months,” Croft instructed BBC Radio 5 Stay.
“She’s misplaced to numerous her nearest and dearest rivals – together with Coco Gauff, and I feel Gauff is wanting as if she’s able to go on and win her first Grand Slam title.
“Whether or not or not she will be able to cope with that emotionally with it being her dwelling Slam, and all of the stress that brings with it, I am undecided. However with Brad Gilbert on board one thing feels completely different about her.
“It feels very broad open. Can Ons Jabeur rebound after that emotional breakdown at Wimbledon which was so painful to look at?
“There’s many names you could possibly have a look at like Aryna Sabalenka, who additionally hasn’t seemed fairly her finest not too long ago, and Elena Rybakina. We have additionally acquired Karolina Muchova, who reached the finals of the French Open.”
