Sabalenka starts the US Open with a strong victory: title defense is alive!

Sabalenka starts the US Open with a strong victory: title defense is alive!

In the spirit of tennis drama, the current world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, successfully started her title defense at the US Open. In a thrilling match she met Swiss player Rebeka Masarova, whom she defeated 7:5, 6:1. Despite falling behind in the first set, Sabalenka fought back impressively and eventually won the set by countering a smash from Masarova. In the second set she gave her opponent no chance.

Masarova, who played with a bandage on her right arm, had increasing difficulties and made many mistakes. Sabalenka, on the other hand, showed the form that has characterized her this season - a clear dominance that has already led to three Grand Slam titles. The US Open is the last Grand Slam tournament of the 2023 season this year and will also start on a Sunday for the first time, which is a small sensation for the tennis world. In the midst of these exciting events, it should be noted that there are only six German tennis professionals competing in the individual competition - the lowest number since 1983, as Radio Ennepe Ruhr reports.

Season in review

Sabalenka's current successes are the result of an impressive season. She started as number two in Adelaide 1, where she celebrated her first final appearance this season. After a series of impressive victories, including at the Australian Open and French Open, she finally won her first major tournament at the Australian Open. With this award, she became the second Belarusian to achieve a major singles victory, after the legendary Victoria Azarenka.

The competitions so far in 2025 show that the 24-year-old performs exceptionally well under pressure. She celebrated victories at Miami and Madrid, while she reached the finals of the BNP Paribas Open and the Stuttgart Grand Prix. Despite these successes, she might not win her first Grand Slam title this season. In the current context, it is interesting to know that she was able to win three of the last five hard court majors, which impressively underlines her performance. However, according to an article by Spokesman, she has won many of her games by close scores, which creates an exciting dynamic in her matches.

A look ahead

Although Sabalenka wants to defend the title at the US Open, she has already announced that she sees the year as a success, regardless of another Grand Slam victory. Their focus is on continuously improving their performance and preparing for future challenges. “I have a good hand for this season and even if not all goals are met, I know that I will work hard to be successful,” she said.

With her impressive record and the setbacks she has had to overcome, Aryna Sabalenka has the tennis world firmly in her grasp. How she performs over the course of the tournament and whether she can continue her impressive streak remains to be seen. Tennis fans can definitely be excited!