Sabalenka beats Osorio to launch US Open title defense

Aryna Sabalenka began her pursuit of a third successive US Open singles title by defeating Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 in the first round at Arthur Ashe Stadium. BBC Sport reported that the world number one completed the victory in one hour and 28 minutes, avoiding an early setback against the 52nd-ranked Colombian.

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The two-time defending champion controlled the opening set, but Osorio made the second more difficult. Sabalenka landed 48% of her first serves and committed 12 unforced errors in that set, yet she prevented Osorio from converting any of three break-point opportunities.

With the second set level at 4-4, Sabalenka secured the decisive break and then served out the match. The straight-sets result put the four-time major singles champion into the second round, where she will face Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko.

Sabalenka arrived in New York after a strong opening phase of the season followed by less productive Grand Slam results. She reached the Australian Open final and won at Indian Wells and Miami to complete the Sunshine Double. BBC Sport reported that early exits, by her standards, then followed at the French Open and Wimbledon. She could finish a season without a major title for the first time since 2022.

The tournament also carries significant ranking consequences. Sabalenka held a 3,000-point lead after winning Miami in April, but Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina had reduced that advantage to 434 points entering this stage of the US Open. Sabalenka is defending 2,000 ranking points in New York after spending 99 weeks as world number one.

A third consecutive title would make Sabalenka only the third woman in the Open era to win three US Open singles championships in succession, after Chris Evert and Serena Williams. Her opening performance secured progress without dropping a set, although Osorio's resistance in the second set ensured the defending champion faced pressure before closing out the win.