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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.

With a simple 2-0 victory over Sassuolo, Kevin De Bruyne gave his debut for Napoli on Saturday, starting their title defense.

De Bruyne opened his account for Napoli in the 57th minute when his free-kick swung in from the left flank and evaded everyone before nestling in the far corner. It was the top signing of the summer transfer window in Italy.

De Bruyne ensured that Napoli would start winning the new campaign in Reggio Emilia with a header header from Scott McTominay, who had already left last season.

READ MORE: Gyokeres Scores Twice As Arsenal Rout Leeds

With 12 goals and another impressive performance for Antonio Conte’s side, McTominay was the star of Napoli’s second Scudetto triumph in three years.

The Scotland midfielder had no luck to double his evening’s total when his rasping first-time effort slammed against the crossbar just before half-time.

Napoli’s attempt to win the league title after the historic success of 2023 ended in 10th place is unfulfilled, not even when Diego Maradona strutted his stuff in southern Italy in the 1980s.

Conte has chosen to stay put, which has given fans hope for another great season, in contrast to Luciano Spalletti, who left immediately after winning the league and immediately destabilized Napoli.

Without Romelu Lukaku, the current team will have to compete in the first few months of Napoli’s quest for a fifth league title.

De Bruyne’s Belgium teammate, Lorenzo Lucca, struggled to get into the game on his Napoli debut, and his thigh muscle tear could keep him out until the end of the year.

Sassuolo won the Serie B title last year, but they were outclassed when they made a second-place finish. The match was finished with 10 men after debutant Ismael Kone was given a two-game penalty in the 79th minute.

Luka Modric will start AC Milan’s first match of the campaign against promoted Cremonese as the veteran star kicks off a new chapter in northern Italy after 13 successful years at Real Madrid.

With a 5-0 victory at the Emirates, Victor Gyokeres gave Leeds a harsh lesson in the step-up to the Premier League.

Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard both suffered injuries eight days before Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool.

As the only two teams to have a 100% record in their opening two games, Arsenal surpassed north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table in goal difference.

After Jurrien Timber opened the scoring, Saka fired a blistering strike from a close range to double the home side’s lead.

As a solution to Arsenal’s need for a killer number nine, Gyokeres was acquired from Sporting Lisbon.

Despite scoring 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting, the Swede’s ability to succeed in the Premier League has been questioned.

Before Timber bundled his second from another Declan Rice corner, Gyokeres made his mark with a strong solo run and finish.

With almost the final kick of the game, Gyokeres sealed the score from the penalty spot.

Before kick-off, new £60 million ($81 million) signing Eberechi Ezi was paraded after he turned down a move to Tottenham.

However, a routine win was hampered by the sight of captain Odegaard and his field-topping talisman Saka.

To win the season opener 1-0 at Manchester United, Arsenal needed to rely on their threat from set pieces.

Despite a dominant opening, the Leeds defense was considered to be highly competitive.

Before Saturday, Timber had only scored twice in 52 games for Arsenal.

The Dutch international doubled that total in the 34th minute when he first tapped Rice’s warm delivery head.

Odegaard then left after it appeared to have injured his shoulder, which was severely slammed against the turf.

Saka quickly restored the momentum of the Emirates crowd when he allegedly used his weak right foot to pass Timber high past Lucas Perri.

Before making the move to Portugal, Gyokeres had once been a target for Leeds while he was a player for Coventry in the Championship.

Arsenal’s new £66 million signing showed what the Yorkshire side had missed when he slammed onto Riccardo Calafiori’s ball over the top and cut inside before striking the near post.

Saka’s hamstring injury nearly cost her the season last year.

The England international was concerned for Arteta when he was replaced after 53 minutes by holding the back of his left leg.

When Leeds stifled another Rice corner and Timber forced the ball over the line from close range, Arsenal added a fouth.

Max Dowman, 15, could then have the opportunity to make his Premier League debut.

After teammate Ethan Nwaneri, he became the second youngest player to play in English football.

Manchester City’s troubles from last season were exposed once more in a humbling 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham on Saturday that raised questions over their quest to regain the Premier League title.

Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha struck for the Europa League winners just before half-time as Spurs went top of the table, making it a perfect start for Thomas Frank after two league games in charge.

City’s run of four consecutive titles came to a spectacular end last season as they finished a distant third behind Liverpool and Arsenal.

A 4-0 thrashing of Wolves on the opening weekend of the campaign showed glimpses of a new-look City back to their best.

However, a series of defensive issues remain unresolved, while manager Pep Guardiola must decide on who will be his number one goalkeeper going forward after a day to forget for James Trafford.

The England international retained his place in goal despite the return to fitness of Ederson.

The Brazilian is reportedly on the verge of joining Turkish giants Galatasaray, which would free up City to make a move for out-of-favor Paris Saint-Germain ‘keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

READ ALSO: Chelsea Thrash West Ham To Pile Pressure On Former Boss Potter

City’s failure to get those deals done before the final week of the transfer window came back to haunt them in a familiar tale for Guardiola’s men against Tottenham.

In the last 13 Premier League meetings between the sides, City have won just four despite several changes of management at Spurs in that time.

Frank is the latest man in the Tottenham dugoutand has made a highly impressive start.

Spurs were minutes away from beating PSG in the UEFA Super Cup before losing on penalties and have taken maximum points from their opening two Premier League games without conceding.

Omar Marmoush’s return was one of two City changes as Ballon d’Or winner Rodri had to settle for a place on the bench.

Marmoush flashed a shot across goal and was then denied by Guglielmo Vicario with City’s best chance before conceding.

City’s high-line was easily exposed in an embarrassing early exit from the Club World Cup to Saudi side Al-Hilal last month and is an issue Guardiola still has to resolve.

Tottenham took the lead on 35 minutes when Mohammed Kudus fed Richarlison, and he squared for Johnson to power past Trafford.

An offside flag briefly halted Spurs’ joy until a VAR review showed the slipping Ruben Dias had played Richarlison onside.

City then completely lost their composure for the period before half-time.

Trafford was fortunate to avoid being punished after rushing outside his box to block from Kudus.

But the 22-year-old then endured a moment which might cost him the chance to be Guardiola’s number one this season.

Trafford’s attempted pass to Nico Gonzalez inside his own box was intercepted by Pape Mate Sarr and even though the goalkeeper recovered to deny Richarlison, Palhinha smashed home the rebound.

Erling Haaland had the chance to reduce City’s arrears in first-half stoppage time, but headed over to sum up a tough afternoon for the Norwegian.

Spurs let a two-goal lead slip late on against PSG in Frank’s first game in charge, but rarely looked in danger of suffering a similar fate.

Haaland wasted City’s other big opportunity to gain a foothold when he overhit a pass to Rayan Cherki with just Vicario to beat.

But City fell to defeat with a whimper and could have been further punished on the counter-attack when Trafford made good saves to deny Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert in stoppage time.

Just two games into the Premier League season, Chelsea came from behind to defeat West Ham 5-1 on Friday, putting pressure on former Blues manager Graham Potter.

Since taking over the reins in January, Potter has only won five of his 21 games, and he has had a terrible start to the new campaign, which included a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland last weekend.

The home team initially had hope thanks to Lucas Paqueta’s brilliant strike, but they lost.

Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez doubled Chelsea’s lead before Joao Pedro scored the opener from a corner.

The nightmare night that new West Ham goalkeeper Mads Hermansen had, Moises Caicedo and Trevoh Chalobah used to profit.

Chelsea climbed to the top of the Premier League for the first time since December 2021 with Victory.

Before kick-off, Chelsea was hit by Cole Palmer’s absence during the warm-up, who was forced to withdraw from Enzo Maresca’s starting lineup as a precaution due to a muscle injury.

Estevao, the Brazilian wonder kid, could show his potential in his first Premier League start following Palmer’s withdrawal.

However, another Brazilian made a spectacular opening score.

Prior to last month’s independent regulatory commission’s ruling last month, Paqueta had been facing a hazy future for two years.

The English Football Association reportedly requested a lifetime ban, but the 27-year-old thanked the club for standing by him.

During a moving moment, Paqueta repeatedly pointed to the badge on his chest after long-range blasting into the top corner.

However, West Ham’s excitement lasted just nine minutes before Chelsea turned the tables.

When Chelsea won the Club World Cup less than six weeks ago, Pedro scored three goals in as many games as he did for the Blues, making himself an instant hero.

The former Brighton forward headed in Marc Cucurella’s flick-on from a corner with a straightforward task.

West Ham initially believed they had taken the lead before Niclas Fuellkrug’s goal was flagged off for offside following a VAR review.

When Pedro picked out Neto for the final goal, the hosts were in a moment before the hosts lost.

Hermansen howls

Estevao has been hailed as one of the brightest young talents in world football after scoring against Chelsea in his final game for the Palmeiras at the Club World Cup.

The 18-year-old showed his explosive pace as he sprinted past the sluggish West Ham defense and into Fernandez’s 3-1 lead in 34 minutes.

During a record-breaking summer transfer window, West Ham have been one of the quietest Premier League clubs.

However, one of the few newcomers started poorly because Hermansen was then to blame for Chelsea’s fourth and fifth goals.

Caicedo prodded into an empty net as the £20 million ($27 million) signing from Leicester turned a corner.

Hermansen’s ball broke nicely for Chalobah to rub salt into West Ham injuries, but the Blues were nowhere to be found.

With over 30 minutes left, thousands of home fans rushed to the exits, but those who remained lustily booed at the final whistle.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said on Friday that a series of outcasts from his squad could be handed a “new life” at Old Trafford if they do not secure a move before the transfer window closes.

Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrell Malacia have been made to train away from the United first-team squad.

Interest in the quartet has not progressed due to United’s valuations, and Amorim hinted they could feature in his future plans if they remain at the club beyond the September 1 transfer deadline.

Garnacho has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, while Real Betis are keen on bringing back Antony after his successful loan spell last season.

Interest in Sancho is complicated by the winger’s reported £350, 000-a-week ($470, 000) wages.

“I know that it’s not a good thing to have players in this situation, but it’s clear they want to play in a different club”, Amorim said on Friday.

“So, we try to arrange everything for both parts to be happy, I have to try to have the training with the guys that I think are going to be the future.

” Then the other guys are training and preparing for the next chapter.

“When the window is closed, it’s a different history. When the window is closed, we have to receive the players and then a new life. Anything can happen”.

READ ALSO: &nbsp, Arsenal Overpower Man United To Begin Premier League Campaign

Despite a positive performance, United’s Premier League season got off to a losing start in a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend.

Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was at fault for the only goal, scored by Riccardo Calafiori.

Amorim left out Andre Onana after a hamstring injury meant the Cameroonian missed the majority of pre-season.

Onana is expected to come back into the side for Sunday’s visit to Fulham, but Amorim refused to confirm that change.

“Onana is ready to play like last week, so we will see in the game who is going to be the goalkeeper”, added the Portuguese coach.