World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka maneuvered through a tricky two-set matchup against Swiss player Rebeka Masarova in the first round of the 2025 US Open as she looks to repeat as champion.

The Russian star took to Instagram — as she usually does after matches — and admitted the crowd gave her goosebumps. “Thank you for the warm welcome,” Sabalenka captioned an eight-photo post. “I’m so happy to be back on this court. You gave me goosebumps.”

Sabalenka, fresh off a loss in the semifinals at Wimbledon, finally broke Masarova at 6-5 in the first set to win 7-5. She then found herself trailing 0-40 in her first service game on the second set, but battled back and avoided the break. The 27-year-old would eventually triumph 7-5, 6-1.

“Happy to be in the second round,” Sabalenka said of her performance. “I feel like I didn’t start my best in the first games, but then I found my rhythm. Yeah, happy with the level I played today.”

“There is something special about the US Open, I have to say,” she added. “Like the atmosphere and the stadium is insane. The support, people who come watch you play, is just an incredible place.

Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula to capture the 2024 US Open title, her first in six tries at the tournament. She’s hoping the New York-based tournament can deliver her first major win in 2025.

The Russian lost both the Australian (Madison Keys) and French (Coco Gauff) Open finals before falling to a third American (Amanda Anisimova) in her Wimbledon semifinals.

Sabalanka admitted there’s “pressure” on being a reigning champion. “I think it’s a lot of pressure, definitely,” she said. “Maybe every time defending champions come, and 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.”

Her path to the final got a little easier on Sunday. No. 14 Clara Tauson — the second-highest ranked player in Section 1 alongside Sabalenka — lost to unseeded Alexandra Eala in her opening match.

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Following her win, Eala reflected on her heritage. “To be Filipino is something I take so much pride in,” she said. I don’t have a home tournament, so to be able to have this community here at the U.S. Open, I’m so grateful they made me feel like I’m home.”