Aryna Sabalenka declared she wanted to “quit tennis right now” after an early exit at Wimbledon, but if you saw her tear through her first match at the 2026 U.S. Open on Monday, you know that was an empty threat. The world No. 1, still the favorite despite a rough Grand Slam season, dispatched Camila Osorio in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, and officially punched her ticket to the second round.
No. 1 Gets Her Groove Back in First Set
It didn’t start picture-perfect. Sabalenka looked a bit vulnerable out of the gate, dropping the first game to Osorio. But talk about needing a quick warm-up. She flipped a switch, winning the next four games in a row. Her serve was an absolute weapon, picking up easy points and making it clear who was in control. Osorio grabbed the sixth game, but Sabalenka wasn’t letting up, taking the next two to cruise to a 6-2 set win. She even notched five aces in that set alone, just to underscore the point.
Second Set Fight and a Statement Finish
Sabalenka carried that momentum right into the second set, taking the first game there too. But Osorio showed some serious grit, battling back to win three of the next four games, suddenly taking a 3-2 lead in the set. For a second, you had to wonder if the recent Grand Slam struggles were going to rear their head again. Not a chance. Sabalenka fought back immediately to even it up. After trading two more games to make it 4-4, she dug deep, winning another to take a 5-4 lead. With that next game, she was going to the second round. And she did it, taking the 10th game in the second set, 6-4, to seal the deal.
Even with her struggles at the French Open and Wimbledon, Sabalenka was still the favorite to win this U.S. Open for a reason. There’s zero evidence she’s fallen off as a player, and let’s not forget, she’s won the last two U.S. Opens and was a runner-up in 2023. This is her court. While it wasn’t a flawless performance, especially with Novak Djokovic also exiting early on Sunday, Sabalenka showed us enough to suggest she’s ready for another lengthy run here. She’s moving on to the second round, and honestly, the rest of the field should be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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