Former Champions Sabalenka, Osaka, Swiatek and Stephens Win Openers in Queens
Four former U.S. Open women’s singles champions were in first-round action at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Monday, and all four secured victories to advance.
The headliner was two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. The top-ranked woman in the world defeated Camila Osorio of Colombia 6-2, 6-4, her 14th straight victory at the U.S. Open.
“I have a long relationship with New York. For so many years, I think I was able to build [a] really good connection with people. And by sharing myself on social media and just on the ground, I feel like people feel really connected,” said Sabalenka, who has played an American in the last three U.S. Open finals. “I hope they’re going to come and support me. If not, it’s only going to give me energy to fight against them or to get the win, but I feel like most of the time I got them on my side, which I’m super grateful [for].”
Despite a small dip in level in the middle of the second set, the world number one was able to advance in straight sets, hitting 32 winners to just 23 unforced errors. Up next is Polina Iatcenko who scored a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7) win over Renata Zarazua.
Iga Swiatek, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, notched a 6-3, 6-2 win over China’s Xiyu Wang. She never faced a break point, and converted on three of her nine break chances to advance in just under 90 minutes.
“I think it was a really good match, a good first round with a good opponent. So I’m happy that I was more solid and intense from the beginning,” said Swiatek. “I felt the ball well, so happy with the match.”
Swiatek is now 30-1 in her career in the opening round of Grand Slams.
“I don’t treat these matches like they should be easy. I don’t take them for granted,” she said. “I’m always ready from the beginning to put the intensity, and I’m ready with the level.”
Nadia Podoroska will be Swiatek’s second-round opponent. The Argentine came back from a set to defeat Simona Waltert of Switzerland on Monday.
Naomi Osaka, a two-time champion in Queens, won two tight tiebreakers to secure her spot in the second round, overcoming Anastasia Zakharova 7-6(6), 7-6(3). A 5-2 first-set lead quickly disappeared for Osaka, but the 2018 and 2020 champion rebounded in the tiebreaker.
Zakharova erased a 3-5 deficit in the second set again, but Osaka was able to outduel her in the second-set tiebreaker as well. As a result, she moved through in straight sets.
“I just told myself not to have any regrets. I just really wanted to come out here and compete,” said Osaka. “I haven’t played since Toronto and I was a little rusty. And I get nervous in the first round of this tournament…just really grateful to play on this court again.”
In the second round, Osaka will play the top-ranked doubles player in the world in Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic. Siniakova was a 6-3, 6-2 victor over Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Nearly 10 years ago, American Sloane Stephens stood on the podium inside Arthur Ashe Stadium as the 2017 U.S. Open champion. Stephens, ranked outside the Top 100, upset Clara Tauson of Denmark 6-4, 6-1 on Monday, rekindling the vibes that saw her power her way to the title a decade ago.
“It’s been a bumpy comeback. It’s been an eventful comeback,” said Stephens. “My goals are evolving, and as my ranking goes up and I get more wins and more confidence, it feels a little different.”
When asked about how much she enjoys playing in New York, Stephens said:
“I love playing here. This is my favorite place to play. There’s always so much love and energy.”
Stephens draws 11th seed Marta Kotsyuk of Ukraine next. Kotsyuk defeated Stephens in Cincinnati 7-5, 7-5 last week.
