<p>Aryna Sabalenka and Polina Kudermetova will meet on Thursday (around 10:40 AEST) at the USTA Billie<strong>&nbsp;</strong>Jean King National Tennis Center for a place in the third round.</p> <p>The defending US Open champion managed to beat Rebeka Masarova in straight sets, winning 7-5, 6-1 to begin her title defence in the best possible way.</p> <p>Kudermetova didn’t have to do too much in her first match of this year’s final Grand Slam, as she enjoyed a walkover win against Spaniard Nuria Parrizas-Diaz, with her opponent having to retire with a twisted ankle. The game was poised at 2-2.</p> <h2>Sabalenka vs Kudermetova US Open 2025 Betting Preview</h2> <p>Despite a challenging start and going down a break early in the first set, Sabalenka pulled away after levelling at 5-5 and dominated the second set, dropping only one game. However, with Kudermetova benefiting from a walkover, she could face another aggressive opponent.</p> <p>Russian Kudermetova has been in mixed form this season, though. When it comes to Grand Slams, her 2025 has been one that she’ll want to put behind her quickly. At the three other majors, she was eliminated in the first round:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>Australian Open 2025: Lost in the 1st round to Magdalena Frech (4-6, 4-6).</li> <li>French Open 2025 (Roland Garros): Lost in the 1st round to Jelena Ostapenko (7-5, 0-6, 2-6).</li> <li>Wimbledon 2025: Lost in the 1st round to Iga Swiatek (5-7, 1-6).</li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Things don’t look great regarding her upcoming opponent, either. The pair have faced each other once in the past, with Sabalenka defeating her in the 2025 Brisbane International final. However, she did take the first set before losing 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in January.</p> <p>A match against either Leylah Fernandez or Elsa Jacquemot will await the winner in the third round.</p> <h2>Sabalenka vs Kudermetova US Open 2025 Betting Predictions</h2> <p>Unsurprisingly, the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/tennis/ladies-us-open/aryna-sabalenka-v-polina-kudermetova-9554331">Sabalenka vs Kudermetova betting odds</a> have the current world number 1 as the heavy favourite to win this encounter. The odds are very short for the match winner, but there’s value to be found elsewhere, making this a solid betting opportunity for tennis fans.</p> <p>The ‘Aryna Sabalenka 2-1’ outcome in the ‘Set Betting’ market could be worth a shot, should things happen in the same way that they did when the pair met in January. Kudermetova will be fresh, so she could replicate that start.</p> <p>As an extension of that bet, it’s possible to back Kudermetova in the ‘To Win 1st Set’ market and find good value here, too.</p> <p>In the ‘BYO Sportsbet - Featured’ markets, value can be had with the ‘Aryna Sabalenka to Win &amp; 18+ Total Match Games’ and ‘Either Player to Win the first set 6-3 OR 6-4’ bets, too. Both outcomes have occurred in their previous meeting, making them worth considering this time around.</p>