Aryna Sabalenka debuted her performance at the 2023 US Open Grand Slam in New York. The vice-leader of the classification was not surprised by the Belgian Maryna Zaniewska. Unexpectedly, Czech Barbora Krejcikova, Croatian Donna Vekic and Anastasia Potapova were eliminated.

In the previous two seasons, Aryna Sabalenka (WTA 2) had reached the semi-finals of the US Open. On Tuesday, she began her sixth appearance at the New York event. She beat Maryna Zaniewska 6:3, 6:2 (WTA 112). The result does not show it, but it was not an easy meeting for the vice-champion of the classification. The Belgian had a break advantage in both sets. In the first she led 2:1 and in the second 2:0. Sabalenka took control of the situation in both cases.

In 78 minutes, the vice-champion of the classification served nine aces and committed eight double faults. She scored 31 of 43 on her own first serve. She was broken three times and had six of her seven break chances. The Australian Open champion threw 27 knockouts with 23 unforced errors. Zaniewska recorded nine straight wins and 13 errors.

Sabalenka’s next opponent will be Jodie Burrage (WTA 96), who beat Anna Blinkowa (WTA 38) 6-3, 6-4. The meeting lasted 76 minutes. The Briton had nine aces and scored 26 of 32 on her own first serve. She gave her opponent no chance to break and she used two of the three break points.

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Three seeded tennis players have been eliminated. One of them is Barbora Krejcikova (WTA 12), who lost 4:6, 6:7(3) to Lucia Bronzetti (WTA 76). In the first set, the Czech lost three more games at 4:3 (she lost a break point at 5:3). In the second she chased after him and from 0:4 she took the lead 6:5. Finally, there was a tie-break in which the 2021 Roland-Garros champion at 3-2 gave her rival five points in a row.

Donna Vekic (WTA 22) lost 6-2, 5-7, 2-6 against Sachia Vickery (WTA 204). In the match, which lasted two hours and 21 minutes, the Croatian used just three out of 13 break points. She was credited with 35 finishers for 48 unforced errors. The American recorded 34 straight wins and 32 errors. She used four of her nine break opportunities.

Anastasia Potapova (WTA 27) lost 6-7(4), 6-3, 3-6 to Clara Tauson (WTA 87) after two hours and 32 minutes of fighting. Both players had eight breaks each. The Dane scored one more point (107-106). Potapova committed 57 unforced errors and Tauson 43.

Three tennis players who have triumphed at the US Open have joined the competition. Only one, Iga Świątek, qualified for the second round. Sloane Stephens was eliminated after the marathon along with Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia. The fate of the American was shared by her compatriot Venus Williams (WTA 410), who only beat Greet Minnen (WTA 97) two games. In 74 minutes, the Belgian used five out of eight break points. The former leader of the classification did not get a single break, even though she had six chances. Williams was scheduled to face Paula Badosa, but the Spaniard pulled out due to health issues.

The match between Martina Trevisan (WTA 58) and Julia Putintseva (WTA 78) aroused a lot of emotions. The Italian won 0:6, 7:6(0), 7:6(8). In the first set, she only scored five points and there was no sign of a marathon. In the end, the meeting lasted three hours and 19 minutes. Trevisan not only revived after 6-0 in the first set, but also came back from 2-4 in the third. In the deciding super tie-break, Putintseva went from 0-3 to 8-7, but the last three points fell to the Italian.

U.S. OpenNew York (USA)
Grand Slam, hard court, $65 million prize pool
Tuesday August 29

1st singles round:

Aryna Sabalenka (2) – Maryna Zaniewska (Belgium) 6-3, 6-2
Daria Kasatkina (13) v Alycia Parks (USA) 2:6, 6:4, 6:2
Qinwen Zheng (China, 23) v Nadia Podoroska (Argentina) 6-1, 6-0
Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic, 25) v Elena-Gabriela Ruse (Romania, Q) 6-1, 6-4
Elina Svitolina (Ukraine, 26) – Anna-Lena Friedsam (Germany) 6-3, 6-1
Lucia Bronzetti (Italy) v Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic, 12) 6-4, 7-6(3)
Sachia Vickery (USA, Q) v Donna Vekić (Croatia, 21) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
Clara Tauson (Denmark) – Anastasia Potapova (27) 7:6(4), 3:6, 6:3
Sofia Kenin (USA) – Ana Bogdan (Romania) 7-6(2), 6-4
Lesia Tsurenko (Ukraine) – Elsa Jacquemot (France, Q) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
Kaia Kanepi (Estonia) v Barbora Strycova (Czech Republic) 6-4, 6-4
Jodie Burrage (Great Britain) – Anna Blinkowa 6:3, 6:4
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Fiona Crawley (USA, Q) 6-2, 6-4
Clara Burel (France) – Caroline Dolehide (USA) 6:4, 6:3
Martina Trevisan (Italy) – Julia Putintseva (Kazakhstan) 0-6, 7-6(0), 7-6(8)
Peyton Stearns (USA) v Victoria Tomova (Bulgaria) 6-3, 6-4
Patricia Maria Tig (Romania) v Rebecca Marino (Canada) 7:6(6), 7:6(1)
Eva Lys (Germany, Q) v Robin Montgomery (USA, WC) 6-2, 6-1
Greet Minnen (Belgium, Q) – Venus Williams (USA, WC) 6-1, 6-1
Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium, LL) v Vera Zvonareva (Q) 6-4, 6-4

Calendar and results of women’s tournaments

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