Sinner, Sabalenka Chasing Rare Repeats As US Open Begins

A photo combo of Sabalenka and Sinner

Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are chasing rare repeat US Open triumphs as the final Grand Slam of the season gets underway in New York on Sunday.

Women’s world number one, Sabalenka, opens the defence of her 2024 crown on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre’s Arthur Ashe Stadium showcourt against unseeded Swiss player Rebeka Masarova in one of the highlights of the opening day of the singles, which is being held on a Sunday for the first time in history.

Italy’s world number one, Sinner, meanwhile, begins his bid for back-to-back titles on Monday, when he takes on unseeded Czech Vit Kopriva.

Both Sabalenka and Sinner are attempting to become the first players to successfully defend their titles for more than a decade.

No woman has repeated at the US Open since Serena Williams won the last of a hat-trick of titles in 2014, following wins in 2013 and 2012.

READ ALSO: Sinner Sweeps To US Open Title For Second Grand Slam Triumph

On the men’s side, it has been 17 long years since a successful title defence, with Roger Federer’s 2008 victory capping a remarkable run of five straight championships.

Sabalenka believes difficulty in repeating is part of the challenge of the Flushing Meadows fortnight, where everything is noisier, flashier, and simply bigger than other Grand Slams.

“I think it’s a lot of pressure, definitely.

“Just because this place is so big, and it feels bigger than the other slams in some ways,” the Belarusian said.

“Maybe every time defending champions come, they put so much pressure on themselves. But I feel like I’m experienced enough to just focus on myself and try to replicate that result.”

Asked for her thoughts on the fact that the last 11 US Open titles have been split by 10 players, Sabalenka quipped, “My thought is to change it.”

‘Very Difficult’

Sinner echoed Sabalenka’s comments, attributing the difficulty of repeating in New York to a combination of factors — season-ending fatigue, scheduling of games , and size.

“We are heading towards the end of the season, so some players are tired,” Sinner said.

“It’s also the last big trophy of the year. Things can change… I don’t know what’s gonna happen this time. But of course it’s a very, very difficult tournament to play,” he added.

Sinner and Sabalenka are the top seeds in a field that will be rewarded with a record $90 million purse, making the US Open the richest tournament in the world.

The men’s and women’s singles champions will each receive $5 million.

The biggest threat to Sinner’s hopes of defending his title is likely to come from Spain’s second seed, Carlos Alcaraz.

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz reacts after winning a game during his men’s singles final match against Italy’s Jannik Sinner on day 15 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 8, 2025. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP)

The 22-year-old, winner of the US Open in 2022, has already faced Sinner twice in Grand Slam finals this season, winning a five-set classic in the French Open in June before losing to the Italian in the Wimbledon final last month.

“Every time we face each other on court, we raise the level to the top,” Alcaraz said on Saturday as he prepared to face unseeded American Reilly Opelka in the first round on Monday.

The men’s draw will also see former world number one Novak Djokovic take another tilt at winning a record 25th Grand Slam.

Djokovic, 38, has not played since reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon last month, where he was comprehensively beaten by Sinner.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic gestures as he speaks to the audience after winning his men’s singles second round tennis match against Britain’s Daniel Evans on the fourth day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 3, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP).

Back in the women’s draw, Sabalenka will be wary of the threat posed by second seed Iga Swiatek, who warmed up for New York with victory at the Cincinnati Open, which in turn followed a breakthrough win at Wimbledon.

Swiatek opens her campaign on Monday against Colombia’s Emiliana Arango.

FILE: Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates victory against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa after their women’s singles match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 20, 2023. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — – — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE —

Monday’s first round games could also see a possible US Open farewell for Venus Williams.

The 45-year-old tennis icon was given a wild card into the main draw after recently returning to tennis from a 16-month absence.

FILE: USA’s Venus Williams serves to Belgium’s Greet Minnen during the US Open tennis tournament women’s singles first round match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on August 29, 2023. (Photo by COREY SIPKIN / AFP)

“Super thrilling to be back. It does not get old; it just gets more exciting,” Williams said on Saturday ahead of what will be a record-extending 25th US Open appearance.

AFP

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