Sabalenka, Azarenka advance to US Open second round

MINSK, 25 August (BelTA) - Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus went off to a good start at the US Open, BelTA has learned.

The reigning US Open champion and world number one defeated Switzerland's world number 109 Rebeka Masarova, 7-5, 6-1, in the opener. In the second round, the Belarusian will face Russia's world number 64 Polina Kudermetova.

Belarus’ world number 133 Victoria Azarenka defeated World No.218 Hina Inoue of the USA, 7-6, 6-4, in the first round. Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich (World No.121) will face World No.76 Iva Jovic of the USA.

The US Open main draw will be held from 24 August to 7 September. The tournament's total prize fund in New York is a record $90 million, with the men's and women's singles champions each earning $5 million. Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka won the previous edition, defeating American Jessica Pegula in the final 7-5, 7-5. In the men's final, Italy’s Jannik Sinner defeated American Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.