Sabalenka wins US Open opener, Djokovic exits early

Aryna Sabalenka began her bid for a historic third consecutive US Open title with a straight-sets victory over Camila Osorio on Monday, August 31, 2026, while the tournament was simultaneously shaken by the early exit of Novak Djokovic. The top-seeded Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, defeated Osorio 6-2, 6-4 in a first-round match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, advancing to face Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko in the next round. The win was a crucial start for Sabalenka, who has been battling a dip in form and a significant threat to her world number one ranking. After winning the Sunshine Double at Indian Wells and Miami earlier in the year, she has struggled, suffering early exits at the French Open, Wimbledon, and in the lead-up tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati. Her 99-week reign at the top of the rankings is now in jeopardy, with Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina trailing by just 434 points. Sabalenka is defending 2,000 points at the US Open and will need to win the title to have a chance of retaining her position, depending on Rybakina's results. Despite the pressure, Sabalenka expressed her comfort on the big stage.