World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka endured a hostile reception at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday as she began her US Open 2025 campaign. The Belarusian was booed onto court by American fans still upset over her controversial comments about Coco Gauff after the Roland Garros final earlier this year.
Sabalenka, who had lost the French Open final in June despite winning the opening set, had stirred outrage by saying that Gauff’s victory came not because she played brilliantly, but because Sabalenka committed too many mistakes. Though she later admitted her remarks were “unprofessional” and even wrote a private apology to Gauff, fans in New York made their disapproval clear.
Match Recap
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Sabalenka faced Rebeka Masarova of Switzerland in the first round.
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Struggling early and dropping serve against the World No. 108, she looked unsettled amid the boos.
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However, Sabalenka fought back to clinch the first set 7-5 before cruising through the second 6-1.
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With the 7-5, 6-1 win, the three-time Grand Slam champion advanced to the second round.
Sabalenka on Handling the Crowd
Speaking after the match, Sabalenka admitted:
“Happy to get this win and happy to be in the second round. I feel like I didn’t start my best in the first games, but then I found my rhythm.”
She will now face unseeded Russian Polina Kudermetova in the next round.
Despite her apology, the incident shows that Sabalenka’s words in Paris have left a lasting impression—especially with US fans rallying behind their star Coco Gauff.
