Defending champion Jannik Sinner started his US Open 2025 campaign in impressive fashion. The Italian tennis star, who entered the tournament as the top seed, easily defeated Czech player Vit Kopriva in straight sets on Tuesday, August 26.
Sinner, who had recently worried fans by pulling out of the Cincinnati Open final due to illness, looked fully fit and back to his best form. He also skipped the mixed doubles event in New York to focus on singles, and his decision seemed to pay off as he showed no signs of struggle in his opening match.
The 24-year-old champion stepped onto the court at Flushing Meadows looking confident and sharp. Facing Vit Kopriva in round one, Sinner controlled the match from the very beginning. He broke Kopriva’s serve early in the first set and continued to pile on the pressure with powerful groundstrokes and accurate serves.
The match lasted just one hour and 38 minutes, and the scoreline clearly reflected Sinner’s dominance: 6-1, 6-1, 6-2. Kopriva, who worked hard but struggled to find answers to Sinner’s attacking play, could not keep up with the pace and precision of the top seed.
Sinner moved freely across the court, showing no signs of the illness that had forced him out of Cincinnati. His strong footwork, combined with aggressive returns, left Kopriva constantly on the back foot. The Italian won most of the important points and maintained complete control throughout the contest.
With this victory, Sinner advanced to the second round, where he will face Alexei Popyrin, the world number 36 from Australia. The upcoming match is expected to be more challenging, as Popyrin has a reputation for big serves and aggressive play on hard courts.
After his win, Sinner shared his thoughts on returning to the US Open, where he has some of the best memories of his career. Last year, he won the men’s singles title at Flushing Meadows, a milestone that cemented his place among the top names in world tennis.
Speaking to the media, Sinner expressed his happiness about starting the tournament on such a positive note. “I have amazing memories. Every year is different and you come here starting this tournament hopefully in the best possible way, which I have done. Coming back to a Grand Slam, where the emotions are still running – I’m very happy to come back here and compete against the best players in the world,” he said.
Sinner’s words show that while he is proud of his past achievements, he is also focused on the present. He knows defending a Grand Slam title is never easy, especially at a tournament as demanding as the US Open. However, his performance in the first round proved that he is ready to fight for another championship.
It is also important to note that Sinner has been in exceptional form on hard courts. He has won the last three Grand Slam tournaments played on this surface, making him one of the strongest hard-court players of his generation. With his combination of speed, strength, and intelligence on the court, he has become one of the most consistent performers in men’s tennis.
Fans and experts are now watching closely to see if he can continue this winning streak and successfully defend his title. If he does, it would further strengthen his reputation as the next dominant force in men’s tennis, following legends like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
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Sinner’s path in the tournament is expected to get tougher as he progresses. His second-round opponent, Alexei Popyrin, is known for his big-serving game and fearless style, which could test Sinner in ways that Kopriva could not. However, based on his first-round performance, Sinner seems prepared to handle such challenges.
Beyond Popyrin, Sinner may also face other top-ranked players in later rounds. The US Open always delivers intense battles, and with stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev in the draw, fans can expect thrilling matches as the competition heats up.
For now, though, Sinner can take confidence from his smooth start. A quick, commanding victory not only helps him conserve energy for tougher rounds ahead but also sends a message to his rivals: the defending champion is back in top form and ready to fight for another crown.
As the tournament continues, supporters will be eager to see if Sinner can maintain his momentum and write another historic chapter at Flushing Meadows. With his talent, focus, and determination, he is already one of the favorites to lift the trophy once again.
Jannik Sinner, the defending champion and top seed, won his US Open 2025 round one match against Vit Kopriva in straight sets: 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.
The match lasted one hour and 38 minutes, with Sinner showing strong form and quick movement.
The Italian had recently pulled out of the Cincinnati Open final due to illness but looked fully recovered.
Sinner has now won his last three hard-court Grand Slams and is aiming for another successful title defence.
In round two, Sinner will face Alexei Popyrin of Australia, ranked world number 36.
Sinner said he feels happy to return to Flushing Meadows, where he has “amazing memories.”
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