Shaken for a while, Sabalenka dismisses Masarova in her US Open debut

Defending champion in New York, Aryna Sabalenka had to work hard for one set to overcome Rebeka Masarova (7-5, 6-1) in her opening match.

The world number one's entry into the tournament was not as imperial as expected. Back on Arthur Ashe court, one year after her first triumph at Flushing Meadows, Sabalenka had a slow start, conceding the first break of the match at 2-2. But the hope was short-lived for Masarova, who immediately gave back this advantage on the scoreboard.

However, the Swiss player, ranked 108th in the world, continued to pose problems for her opponent. It was finally after an impressive defensive point at 6-5 that Sabalenka took control in this first round.

After a furious cry of relief, the Belarusian dominated the second set to win 7-5, 6-1 in 1 hour and 21 minutes.

Tested in her first match of the fortnight, Sabalenka will face Polina Kudermetova in the second round. In early January, the two players met in the final in Brisbane, with the world number one clinching a hard-fought victory 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.