Summary

  • Day one of US Open in New York

  • Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beats Rebeka Masarova 7-5 6-1

  • World number one Sabalenka seeking first major of year

  • Emma Raducanu drops just three games against Ena Shibahara to reach second round

  • First time Raducanu has gone past first round at Flushing Meadows since 2021 title run

  • Home hopes Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton through; Novak Djokovic and Jessica Pegula in night session

  1. Sabalenka holdspublished at 20:50 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 7-5 1-0 Masarova*

    That's so impressive from Sabalenka, but really frustrating for Masarova.

    The top seed looked all over the place but managed to fight off three break points and keep with serve.

    Masarova might come to regret that missed opportunity.

  2. Postpublished at 20:47 British Summer Time

    *Sabalenka 7-5 Masarova

    No panic from Sabalenka, as she smashes a forehand winner to take the game to deuce having trailed 0-40.

  3. Break points for Masarovapublished at 20:45 British Summer Time

    *Sabalenka 7-5 Masarova

    Well well well, three break points coming up for Rebeka Masarova at the start of the second set.

  4. Postpublished at 20:45 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 7-5 Masarova

    Rajeev Ram
    American professional tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live

    What a last point! I cannot believe that ball came back. Great from Sabalenka to take that opportunity when it was given to her.

  5. Game and first set Sabalenkapublished at 20:42 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 7-5 Masarova

    Aryna Sabalenka takes the first set with an incredible point!

    The top seed scrambles to return a powerful Masarova strike, and then somehow returns a smash which her opponent can only deflect up in the air.

    Sabalenka pounces and smashes home a winner, clinching her second break of the day and the opening set.

  6. Set pointpublished at 20:40 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 6-5 Masarova*

    A blistering forehand brings up set point for Aryna Sabalenka.

  7. Sabalenka holdspublished at 20:36 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 6-5 Masarova*

    Great scrambling from Rebeka Masarova to return some powerful shots from Aryna Sabalenka, but the Belarusian gets her way in the end and retakes the lead on serve.

  8. Marasova holdspublished at 20:34 British Summer Time

    *Sabalenka 5-5 Masarova

    Rebeka Masarova doesn't look fazed as she once again draws level when serving. to stay in the set

  9. Postpublished at 20:30 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 5-4 Masarova*

    Russell Fuller
    Tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

    Aggressive intent from Sabalenka forces a mistake from Masarova. She now has a couple of questions to answer after being a break up.

  10. Sabalenka holdspublished at 20:29 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 5-4 Masarova*

    Aryna Sabalenka replies with a 40-0 service game, finished off with a pin-point forehand into the far corner.

  11. Masarova holdspublished at 20:27 British Summer Time

    *Sabalenka 4-4 Masarova

    Good, aggressive play there from Masarova as she pushes high to the net to meet Sabalenka's shot.

    The Swiss player has won all four of her net points today.

  12. Postpublished at 20:23 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 4-3 Masarova*

    Rajeev Ram
    American professional tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Interesting to see now if Sabalenka looks like she has her teeth in the match a bit more after getting that break back. Let's see if she can find the court a little but more than she has been doing.

  13. Sabalenka holdspublished at 20:21 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 4-3 Masarova*

    No messing about from Aryna Sabalenka as she serves up a 40-15 win. The defending champion has got herself back on track.

  14. Sabalenka breakspublished at 20:18 British Summer Time

    *Sabalenka 3-3 Masarova

    Rebeka Masarova double faults and Aryna Sabalenka breaks back immediately.

    That was a tough game - Masarova looked a little tired after 10 and 14-shot rallies.

  15. Break points Sabalenkapublished at 20:17 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 2-3 Masarova*

    Two break points for Aryna Sabalenka.

  16. Postpublished at 20:14 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 2-3 Masarova*

    Rajeev Ram
    American professional tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live

    That is not the start we were expecting. Credit to Masarova, she has a lead to play with now.

  17. Masarova breakspublished at 20:12 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 2-3 Masarova*

    Rebeka Masarova breaks with Aryna Sabalenka making some very uncharacteristic errors. She's made seven unforced errors already today, compared to Masarova's two.

    The top seed doesn't look settled at all.

    Belarus's Aryna Sabalenka reaches for a returnImage source, Getty Images
  18. Break points Masarovapublished at 20:11 British Summer Time

    *Sabalenka 2-2 Masarova

    Rebeka Masarova is gifted two break points as Aryna Sabalenka overcooks a sweeping forehand towards the back of the court.

  19. Postpublished at 20:10 British Summer Time

    *Sabalenka 2-2 Masarova

    Rebeka Masarova's main strength is her serve, and she makes it count as she breezes through her service game 40-0.

  20. Who is Rebeka Masarova?published at 20:08 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka v Masarova

    Rebeka Masarova has recently risen to 108th in the world rankings, though she is still a way off her career high of 62, achieved in December 2023.

    Born in Basel, Switzerland, Masarova idolised compatriot Roger Federer.

    The 26-year-old - whose mother is Spanish - represented Spain between 2018 and 2024, but switched allegiance back to Switzerland last year.