Sabalenka advances as Djokovic exit shakes U.S. Open field

The Belarusian top seed progressed smoothly through her opening contest on the second day of the tournament in New York, maintaining her credentials as the favourite to claim another crown at Flushing Meadows.

Sabalenka's advance came as the men's competition grappled with the fallout from Djokovic's shock defeat in the previous round. The absence of the Serbian veteran, a perennial contender at major tournaments, has opened an unexpected pathway through the draw for lower-seeded players.

The disruption to the men's field extended further on Monday when 10th seed Arthur Fils was eliminated from the championship. The French player's exit adds to the uncertainty that has marked this year's tournament in the early rounds.

With several established names having already departed the competition, remaining contenders will view the reshuffled draw as an opportunity to make unexpected runs toward the championship. Sabalenka's continued presence in the women's draw, meanwhile, positions her as the clear frontrunner in that half of the tournament.