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 saves break points to holdpublished at 20:06 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 2-1 Masarova*

    A double fault put Aryna Sabalenka on the back foot, but she saves a couple of break points to power her way through. We stay with serve.

  2. Postpublished at 20:02 British Summer Time

    *Sabalenka 1-1 Masarova

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

    Players don't often like playing on a Sunday. Emma Raducanu was saying to me after her win that it was very much on her mind that she was the first match, and no one wants to be out at 12:30 on a Sunday.

  3. Postpublished at 20:00 British Summer Time

    *Sabalenka 1-1 Masarova

    Rebeka Masarova replies with a pair of aces and holds serve after Sabalenka took her to deuce.

  4. Postpublished at 19:54 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka 1-0 Masarova*

    The reigning US Open champion and world number one takes the opening game with minimal fuss.

    * denotes next server

  5. Postpublished at 19:51 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka v Masarova

    Aryna Sabalenka knows how to defend a Grand Slam - she won the Australian Open in both 2023 and 2024, before narrowly missing out on a three-peat this year.

    Will the Belarusian successfully defend her US Open crown?

    Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.

  6. Fritz holdspublished at 19:51 British Summer Time

    *Nava 5-7 2-6 1-4 Fritz

    Taylor Fritz is a break up in the third set but the fourth seed's standard has dipped slightly.

    His first serve percentage is down at 54% but he's dominating rallies to keep Nava at bay.

  7. Head-to-headpublished at 19:49 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka v Masarova

    Aryna Sabalenka and Rebeka Masarova have only met once before, and the Swiss player gave a good account of herself despite the disparity between their rankings.

    After losing the opening set of their Berlin Open last-16 match in June, Masarova fought back to take the second set to a tie-breaker, which she lost 8-6.

    The world number 108 will have to be at her best against top seed Sabalenka who is looking to finish 2025 with a Slam.

  8. Postpublished at 19:48 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka v Masarova

    Aryna Sabalenka wins the coin toss and elects to serve first.

  9. 'I've learned tough lessons'published at 19:45 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka v Masarova

    Despite her recent struggles, Sabalenka has the opportunity to make history at Flushing Meadows.

    Victory would see her become the first woman to defend the title since Serena Williams in 2014.

    "I have learned a lot of tough lessons this season in the Grand Slams," Sabalenka said.

    "Maybe every defending champion comes and puts so much pressure on themselves.

    "I feel like I'm experienced enough to just focus on myself and try to replicate that result."

  10. Sabalenka begins title defencepublished at 19:41 British Summer Time

    Sabalenka v Masarova

    Aryna SabalenkaImage source, Getty Images

    Next up, defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka begins her title defence against Rebeka Masarova.

    Sabalenka may be top seed, but she arrives in New York at the end of a tough year.

    The three-time Grand Slam winner has not won a major since beating Jessica Pegula in the 2024 US Open final.

    This year the 27-year-old lost the finals of the Australian and French Opens, before exiting Wimbledon at the semi-final stage.

    Sabalenka was out of sorts at the WTA 1,000 event in Cincinnati, playing erratically as she scraped past Emma Raducanu before being outclassed by Elena Rybakina.

  11. 'We are here for the long haul'published at 19:38 British Summer Time

    Shelton 6-3 6-2 6-4 Buse

    Ben Shelton on his plans for his two days off: "A lot of practice. There are a lot of things I need to get better [at] and clean up if I want to make a run in this tournament. It's step-by-step.

    "Two days off, I'll have some free time. My girlfriend took the red-eye from California to be here tonight so... we are here for the long haul and I'm just looking forward to it."

  12. 'This is the pinnacle of tennis'published at 19:31 British Summer Time

    Shelton 6-3 6-2 6-4 Buse

    Ben Shelton on coming in to the tournament in good form: "For us, we take it one step at a time and try to get better every day. As soon as you start looking ahead of yourself you stumble over your own feet so for me it's one day at a time, one match at a time and I am just grateful to be out here.

    "For me, just the experience of playing this tournament is enough. I'm happy to come back here every year. This is the one, this is the pinnacle of tennis for me and what I dreamed about as a kid."

  13. Game and second set - Fritzpublished at 19:31 British Summer Time

    Nava 5-7 2-6 0-0 Fritz*

    Simple as you like for Taylor Fritz in that second set.

    The fourth seed breaks his compatriot twice, making just four unforced errors throughout.

    Nava, by contrast, made 12 - including a wayward backhand on Fritz's break point to give him the second set.

  14. 'It's starting to feel like home'published at 19:27 British Summer Time

    Shelton 6-3 6-2 6-4 Buse

    Ben Shelton speaking to Sky Sports: "It's starting to feel like home for me, this is the best court in tennis. It's my favourite place to play, my favourite court and favourite tournament.

    "On the opening day there are always nerves but I'm really I came out here and you guys get to see me do my thing and I'm really appreciative of everyone who came out.

  15. game, set and match

    Game, set and match - Sheltonpublished at 19:23 British Summer Time

    Shelton 6-3 6-2 6-4 Buse

    Ben Shelton gets the job done.

    Ignacio Buse survives a fourth match point before Shelton finally gets himself over the finish line at the fifth time of asking.

    Just two hours and seven minutes were required as the former semi-finalist lays down a marker in New York.

    He'll face Pablo Carreno-Busta or Pablo Llamas Ruiz in round two.

  16. Buse holdspublished at 19:19 British Summer Time

    *Shelton 6-3 6-2 5-4 Buse

    The American yet again holds comfortably and puts pressure on his opponent..

    But Ignacio Buse survives three match points and holds his serve to extend his stay on court.

    Shelton to serve for a place in the second round.

  17. Fritz breakspublished at 19:16 British Summer Time

    Nava 5-7 1-3 Fritz*

    And that's the difference really, isn't it?

    Taylor Fritz goes a break up in this second set, punishing Emilio Nava for a pretty ragged service game.

    Nava's done very little wrong in this match but Fritz has been ruthless in exploiting those opportunities.

  18. Postpublished at 19:15 British Summer Time

    *Shelton 6-3 6-2 4-3 Buse

    Ryan Harrison
    Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

    Shelton has been really good. It hasn't been perfect, but every time he has come up against a break point he has come up with something great and that is what you want to see.

  19. Buse holdspublished at 19:06 British Summer Time

    *Shelton 6-3 6-2 4-3 Buse

    Another simple hold for Ben Shelton who closes out his service game with a perfectly measured volley.

    Ignacio Buse is not in a rush to get out of here though.

    It's a hold to love for the Peruvian.

    : Ignacio BuseImage source, Getty Images
  20. 'I'm happier coming back to the US Open now'published at 19:04 British Summer Time

    Raducanu 6-1 6-2 Shibahara

    Emma Raducanu on returning to the US Open: "I'm a lot happier coming back this year. The last few years I've come here, I felt too much pressure.

    "I put too much pressure on myself, I don't think I was in the best state coming into the tournament in terms of practice, preparation matches.

    "This year I feel I am doing the right things, working on the right things as well, and that helps with my confidence."