Sabalenka extends US Open streak with 6-1, 6-1 rout

Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the third round of the US Open with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over qualifier Polina Iatcenko on Wednesday. The world No. 1 completed the second-round match in 54 minutes, extending her winning streak at Flushing Meadows to 15 matches, according to the WTA's official match report.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlKLfajNpTI

Sabalenka took control early by attacking Iatcenko's second serve and establishing a double-break advantage in the opening set. She broke serve six times across the match, three times in each set. Iatcenko held serve once in the first set and broke Sabalenka in the second, but that break left the qualifier trailing 3-1 and did not alter the direction of the contest.

The statistics reflected Sabalenka's dominance. She hit 24 winners compared with three from Iatcenko and won 16 of the 24 points played on Iatcenko's first serve. Sabalenka also claimed 14 of 21 points against the qualifier's second serve and converted eight of 11 approaches to the net, a 73 percent success rate.

Iatcenko, 22, was appearing in only her second Grand Slam main-draw match and her second tour-level main draw. She had reached round two by defeating Renata Zarazua 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, winning the deciding match tiebreak 10-7. That first-round contest lasted three hours and 27 minutes, while Sabalenka's victory ended in less than one-third of that time.

The result continued several notable runs for the two-time defending champion. Sabalenka is now 13-0 against qualifiers at Grand Slam tournaments, with every one of those victories coming in straight sets. She has also won her past 25 tour matches against qualifiers and lucky losers, and Wednesday's result was her 23rd consecutive second-round victory at a major.

Sabalenka will face Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday for a place in the fourth round. The pair have met three times previously, with Sabalenka winning each match. After the victory, Sabalenka told the WTA that she was satisfied with her level and focus, and said she felt stronger mentally and physically than she had during the middle of the season.