As the final Grand Slam of the season begins in New York on Sunday, defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are chasing elusive repeat victories.
In one of the highlights of the first-ever Sunday singles competition, world number one Sabalenka faces Swiss player Rebeka Masarova, who is the unseeded player from Switzerland, on the Arthur Ashe Stadium’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Meanwhile, Sinner, the world number one in Italy, will face Czech Vit Kopriva on Monday to begin his bid for back-to-back titles.
Both Sabalenka and Sinner are attempting to win the first titles they have successfully won in more than ten years.
Since Serena Williams won the final of her hat-trick of titles in 2014, following victories in 2013 and 2012, no woman has ever won the US Open.
Also read: Sinner defends his second Grand Slam triumph at the US Open.
Men’s history: 17 years since a successful title defense, with Roger Federer’s victory in 2008 closing a remarkable run of five straight championships.
The Flushing Meadows fortnight, where everything is noisier, flashier, and simply bigger than other Grand Slams, is a challenge, according to Sabalenka, who believes repeatability is a part of it.
“I believe there is a lot of pressure,” she says.
The Belarusian remarked, “Just because this place is so big, and it feels bigger than the other slams in some ways,” “…
“Maybe they put so much pressure on themselves every time the defending champions arrive.” However, I don’t think I’ve done enough to try to emulate that outcome because I’m so experienced.
Sabalenka remarked, “My thought is to change it, given that the last 11 US Open titles have been split by 10 players.
Very challenging
Sinner echoed Sabalenka’s assertions, pointing out that the difficulty of repeating in New York is a result of a number of factors, including size, game scheduling, and season-ending fatigue.
Some players are tired because we are approaching the end of the season, according to Sinner.
It’s also the year’s final significant trophy. I’m not sure what will happen this time because things can change. But, he continued, “It’s a very, very challenging tournament.”
The top seeds, who will receive a $90 million prize money, will make the US Open the world’s richest tournament.
The men’s and women’s singles champions will each receive $5 million.
Spanish second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz poses the greatest threat to Sinner’s chances of defending his title.
The 22-year-old, who won the US Open in 2022, has already faced Sinner twice in Grand Slam finals this year, winning a five-set classic at the French Open in June before falling short to the Italian in the Wimbledon final last month.
As Alcaraz prepared to face unseeded American Reilly Opelka in the first round on Monday, he said, “Every time we face each other on court, we raise the level to the top.”
Former world no. 1 Novak Djokovic will also attempt to win a record 25th Grand Slam in the men’s draw.
Djokovic, 38, hasn’t played since reaching the semi-finals of last month’s Wimbledon against Sinner, who was also systematically defeated.
Iga Swiatek, who won the Cincinnati Open and later a title that came with a breakthrough win at Wimbledon, will be wary of Sabalenka, who is back in the women’s draw.
Emiliana Arango of Colombia is Swiatek’s opponent in her Monday campaign.
Venus Williams might bid her adieu at the US Open after Monday’s first round matches.
After recently returning to tennis after missing 16 months, the 45-year-old tennis legend was given a wild card into the draw.
It’s “super exciting to be back.” Williams said on Saturday ahead of his record-breaking 25th US Open appearance, “It does not get old; it just gets more exciting.
Source: Channels TV
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