Sabalenka begins US Open title defence as Tsitsipas pulls off upset against Fils

Aryna Sabalenka said she is determined to look ahead, rather than dwell on a difficult past few months, after beginning her US Open title defence with a 6-2, 6-4 victory against Camila Osorio.

“The good thing for me is not looking back no matter what, if it’s good or bad, because I feel a good result can also stop you from performing well because you’re basically focusing on the past,” Sabalenka said. “I never look back. If I win the tournament or lose the tournament, today is a new day, and I have to stay in the moment.”

Sabalenka’s No 1 ranking is at risk after failing to reach a final for four months, with Elena Rybakina having a strong chance of taking top spot. Sabalenka produced a professional opening performance, serving well and overpowering Osorio from the baseline. She eased through the first set, and quickly rolled through the concluding three games of the second to close out the match.

“I had opportunities, I tried to step in,” Sabalenka said. “She played great. She brought the fight and she battled really well, and I just tried to stay as aggressive as possible.”

The Cincinnati Open champion Arthur Fils, meanwhile, endured the biggest upset of the second day at Flushing Meadows: he was defeated 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-4 by the former world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas. Fils, the 10th seed, arrived in New York considered one of the title contenders in an open men’s draw, but after leading 6-4, 5-2 the Frenchman balked while attempting to serve for the second set.

Once he allowed Tsitsipas back into the match, the Greek served and struck his forehand brilliantly until the end, while Fils failed to regain the intensity and quality with which he began the match.

“Once the energy went down at the end of the second, I never felt again a good energy,” Fils said. “I have to talk with my team, but at my level to do such a mistake is almost unprofessional.”

It is an enormous result for Tsitsipas, twice a grand slam singles finalist, who fell as low as No 88 in the ATP rankings this year and now sits at No 53.

The 28‑year‑old recently chose to split from his father, who had coached him on‑and-off since his childhood. Their relationship had become increasingly tense this year, leading Tsitsipas to declare that he does not intend to work with him again. This result is a significant step forward as he tries to re-establish himself.

A positive run of first‑round results for British players early in the tournament continued on Monday as Harriet Dart followed up her strong performances in the qualifying draw by recovering from a set down to defeat the world No 55 Peyton Stearns, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

She was followed into the second round by Jacob Fearnley, a lucky loser, who trailed by two sets to one before outlasting the world No 65 Martin Landaluce 4-6, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Fearnley had fallen in the final round of qualifying in three tight sets before a flurry of late withdrawals allowed him to enter the tournament as a lucky loser.

As with Toby Samuel, another qualifier, after his first‑round win on Sunday, Fearnley’s victory moves him back into the top 100 of the live rankings, meaning there will likely be five British men inside the ATP top 100 after the tournament: Arthur Fery, Cameron Norrie, Jan Choinski, Samuel and Fearnley.