The US Open
US Open 2025 Women’s Day 1
Holder Aryna Sabalenka eased into her opening match at the US Open, with the on-form top seed crushing Swiss Rebeka Masarova 7-5, 6-1 in 82 minutes to advance to the second round.
The world No. 1 who fell in the Cincinnati quarter-finals to Elena Rybakina, broke five times in the quick opening victory. But she also overcame an opening shock, dropping serve to trail 3-2 in the opening set.
The three-time Grand Slam winner quickly got the break back and held her concentration against the potential spoiler who once ranked 62nd.
It was the 52nd victory of the season for Sabalenka, who beat Jessica Pegula in the final a year ago; she now plays Polena Kudermetova..
Former champion Emma Raducanu earned her first win at the Open since her out-of-the-blue title run four years ago, with the Briton firing to a day 1 success over Japan’s Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2.
Emma Raducanu winning her first match at US Open since winning the title in 2021
“I’m very, very pleased to have won that match; it’s my first win here since 2021 so it’s extra special.
“First rounds are always difficult, and especially so in Slam, you know, there are nerves. So, I’m just so happy with the way I came through that, and playing Ena, she’s really tricky.
The winner added: “She obviously came through qualifying, and you feel like you have a bit of an advantage having been playing on the surface – I know what that feels like.
“I’m just very pleased with how I managed myself and managed my game through that match.”
The 62-minute rout got No, 35 Raducanu off to confident start at the final major of the season after her morale-boosting third-round showings this season at the Australian Open and Wimbledon,
“I see the progress that I’m making on the practice court,” Raducanu said after the fastest Grand Slam victory of her career.
“It might not come straight away, but I know over time I’m just racking up good days building. I feel like it has to go somewhere.”
The 22-year-old Briton faced just one break point in the match; she started with a 5-0 lead and never looked back against the qualifier, who trailed 4-0 in the second set .
Raducanu will next play 149th-ranked qualifier Janice Tjen, who beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. The Indonesian is the first from her Asian nation to play the main draw of a Grand Slam since 2004.
Canadian Leylah Fernadez, who lost the 2021 Open final to Raducanu, reached the second round over compatriot Rebecca Marino 6-2, 6-1, another victory which took just over one hour.
Asia scored again later as Alexandra Eala of the Philippines defeated Dane Clara Tauson 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (11).
The first Filipina to score a Grand Slam win trailed 5-1 in the third set and needed five match points to score her historic win.
Alexander Zverev on Thursday made a long-sought after return to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, booking his first final four at the event since 2019, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
The 2027 year-end No. 1 last got this far as the Covid pandemic began to surface in China in 2019. The event was not played 2020-2022, with the German making modest progress here over the past three editions since resumption.
After winning his 62nd match of the season, the 29-year-old was pleased with his performance.
“I think it was a huge step up. From just being on the court I felt both of us were playing really well.
“I was, a lot of the time, outhitting Alex, which is difficult to do from the baseline because he is so fast and he loves this kind of court speed here.
“I felt good and I’m happy with the step up from the past couple of matches.”
Zverev advanced in 78 minutes, sending over 10 aces as he defeated the Australian for the ninth time in their 13 matches.
Added the reigning Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows Grand Slam champion: “I’ve been handling pressure quite okay this year. In a way you play a bit more relaxed.
“Once Jannik (SInner) unfortunately announced he won’t play for the rest of the year, I’m 4,000 points ahead of everyone else, so I trust myself enough that I’m going to win [enough matches].
Zverev will play for the final to wrap up the Asian swing as he takes on Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who advanced when Arthur Gea quit their quarter-final with injury.
Alexander Zverev will claim world year-end No. 1 honours for the first time on the back of two Grand Slam titles and a final this season.,
The ATP confirmed the changing of the guard as current No. 1 Jannik Sinner ended his season early last week due to a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon three months ago.
Zverev won Roland Garros and US Open trophies and lost to Sinner in the All England Club final.
His reign at the top will begin after the ATP Final in Turin with the ranking period starting on November 23.
Zverev will be 29 years, 217 days old on the date, three days older than Andre Agassi in 1999 (29 years, 214 days).
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev by ISF Ltd
The protagonists from the just-completed China Open will give the WTA Wuhan event a miss, with both Zheng Qinwen and finalist Mirra Andreeva skipping the key Asian date.
Beijing weekend champion Zheng who thrilled a nation with her home title victory, is claiming a right shoulder injury which Andreeva feels “fatigue.”
“I’m very sorry to share that I will be withdrawing from this year’s Wuhan Open,” Zheng said in a statement. “Wuhan is where my tennis dream began, and the Wuhan Open is also where I made my breakthrough at the WTA 1000 level.
“I have always looked forward to competing in front of my hometown fans.
“Since returning from injury, however, I have played a demanding stretch of tennis over the past month and a half, competing at the US Open, the Billie Jean King Cup, and the China Open.
“My body is feeling very fatigued after this intense run of matches. I look forward to returning to the Wuhan Open next year and stepping onto the court in my best possible form!”
Andreeva’s Beijing performance has lifted the teenager into the ranking top 3 for the first time and gives her a shot at the world No. 1 ranking by season’s end next month.
Main photo :-Zheng Quinwen by ISF Ltd
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