Four formidable talents familiar with finishing first in Flushing headline the first-ever Sunday start to the US Open. Defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka, four-time US Open men’s titlist Novak Djokovic, and 2021 winners Daniil Medvedev and Emma Raducanu headline this first of 15 days of main draw play. Those former champs will be sharing court time on this Day One with an impressive lineup of tennis’ top talents, including 2024 US Open men’s finalist Taylor Fritz, three-time US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka, 2020 Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, two-time Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini, and an all-star American contingent led by fan favorites Jessica Pegula, Ben Shelton, Emma Navarro and Brandon Nakashima. One added day figures to equal a whole lot of added excitement.
Women’s top seed Sabalenka, who captured her third career Slam singles crown here last year in a tight two-set thriller of a final over Pegula, has yet to find that major magic in 2025. Twice a runner-up this year—at the Aussie Open and Roland Garros—and a semifinalist at Wimbledon, the 27-year-old tall talent has thus far come up short in her effort at owning the sport’s largest stages. She’s not been without success, winning titles in Brisbane, Miami and Madrid, and reaching finals at Indian Wells and Stuttgart. That’s been enough to earn her the No. 1 ranking in the women’s game and the top line of this tournament’s draw, but it’s safe to say it’s not been enough for her. With a final shot at capturing a major title in 2025, expect a major effort right out of the gate from the defending champ.
That’s not great news for Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, who’s first up today for the top seed. Making just her third career US Open main draw appearance, the 26-year-old Masarova has posted second-round showings in both of her previous main-draw appearances in Flushing. The 2016 Roland Garros girls' champion owns six titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour, but doesn’t have a whole lot of major leagues experience. She did reach the final of the Auckland event in 2023, losing there to Coco Gauff, but on the WTA Tour this year, third-round showings in Miami and Madrid are her best efforts.
The two have met just once, with Sabalenka scoring a 6-2, 7-6 win on grass of Berlin in June of this year. Different surface, different tournament, different time—but likely a similar result. In a tidy two, the defending champ advances.
Like Sabalenka, Djokovic, whose 24 Grand Slam singles titles are the most of all time, is without a major crown in 2025. The 38-year-old Serb, who long ago ensured himself a spot in the hallowed halls of Newport, spent the majority of his career as one of tennis’ “Big Three,” alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. This year, he’s spent the season largely swept aside on major stages, thanks to the typhoon generated by the sport’s “New Two,” and @sinner.
Djokovic, who’s only played seven ATP Tour events outside of the Slams this year, comes to Flushing as the Open’s No. 7 seed—the lowest number he’s had next to his name here since playing as the 20th seed in 2006. It’s something of an understatement to say this is an unusual spot for the four-time US Open champ, who hold the record for being seeded No. 1 most often at the majors—and incredible 33 times. But this year, despite capturing his 100th career singles title at Geneva in May, Djokovic has not had a Djokovic kind of year, reaching only one other final—that on the hard courts of Miami in March, where he was upset by 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik.
The former No. 1 figures to get a pretty fair test from yet another talented teen in his first-round match here, as he squares off with 19-year-old American Learner Tien. Playing with a career-high ranking of No. 48, Tien posted his best career Slam showing in January at the Aussie Open where he reached the fourth round, knocking out Medvedev in a fiery five-setter in round two. At 19, the big-hitting lefty owns a surprisingly mature game. Twice a major junior finalist—at the 2023 Aussie and US Opens—Tien also won the USTA Boys’ 18 titles twice, at the tender ages of 16 and 17. It’s not particularly common to be making your fourth main-draw US Open appearance at the age of 19, but Tien already has proven himself as an uncommon talent.
The two men have never met across the net, and this first encounter looms as an intriguing one. The all-time champion against a fast-rising star whose unmistakable talents would seem to portend unlimited potential. The aptly-named Learner is indeed an increasingly-smart player, and it seems only a matter of time before Learner becomes teacher. Certainly, there’s no better test than facing off with the greatest player ever to play this sport.
This figures to be a good one; an outstanding test for both men, each of whom will be eager to make an opening-night statement on the game’s greatest stage. Give Tien a set, but give the all-timer this first-time meeting. In a furious four, Djokovic is on to round two.
