Sabalenka Opens US Open Title Defense With Win Over Osorio

NEW YORK —

Aryna Sabalenka got her US Open title defense off to a solid, if occasionally bumpy, start on Monday, beating Colombia's Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 in the first round at Arthur Ashe Stadium, according to BBC Sport.

Sabalenka, seeded to win her third consecutive US Open, cruised through the opening set but ran into trouble in the second. She landed just 48 percent of her first serves and made 12 unforced errors, fending off three break points before finally breaking Osorio's serve at 4-4 and closing out the match in one hour and 28 minutes, BBC Sport reported.

"I really feel my best emotions at this stadium so it means a lot to be back and have an opportunity for a 'three-peat,'" Sabalenka said afterward, according to BBC Sport. "I'm trying to focus on myself. I'm enjoying my time in New York and I'm ready to go out here and do anything it takes to get the wins. I'm ready for the fight."

A Ranking Lead That Keeps Shrinking

The win came as Sabalenka's hold on the number one ranking looks less secure than it did a few months ago. She built a 3,000-point lead at the top of the standings after winning the Miami Open in April, but early exits at the French Open and Wimbledon have cut into that cushion, BBC Sport reported. Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina now trails her by just 434 points and opens her own tournament Tuesday against American wildcard Thea Frodin.

Sabalenka is defending 2,000 ranking points at Flushing Meadows, meaning she likely needs to win the title, and needs Rybakina to lose before the semifinals, to keep her 99-week run atop the rankings alive, according to BBC Sport. American players Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff could also claim the top ranking with a title run of their own. Should Sabalenka capture a third straight US Open crown, she would become just the third woman to do so in the Open era, joining Serena Williams and Chris Evert, BBC Sport reported.

Sabalenka next faces Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko.

Alcaraz Also Advances

Elsewhere at Flushing Meadows, defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz opened his own title defense with a straight-sets win over Roman Safiullin, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, in his first match back after roughly four months away from the tour, according to the Guardian. "It's been a really tough five months for me, so being able to step in the Arthur Ashe, to compete again ... here in New York it's a really special place for me," Alcaraz said, according to the Guardian.

Sportsbooks list Alcaraz as the tournament favorite on the men's side at +250 and Sabalenka as the favorite among the women at +330, with Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek next behind her, ESPN reported. American Amanda Anisimova, last year's runner-up, also won in straight sets on her 25th birthday, while defending Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova both advanced, according to BBC Sport.