Sabalenka Drops Two Games in 53-Minute US Open Victory

Aryna Sabalenka reached the third round of the US Open with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over qualifier Polina Iatcenko on Wednesday. The WTA reported that the world No. 1 completed the second-round match in 53 minutes, dropping only two games as she continued her title defense in New York.

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

Sabalenka established control quickly, securing a double-break advantage early in the opening set. According to the WTA’s match report, she attacked Iatcenko’s second serve for winners on both of those break points, once from the backhand side and once with her forehand. She broke serve six times in total, with three breaks in each set.

The winner count underlined the difference between the players. Sabalenka finished with 24 winners, while Iatcenko recorded three. The WTA said Sabalenka had already produced 12 winners before Iatcenko registered her first. At the net, the top seed won eight of 11 points, a 73 percent success rate.

Iatcenko got on the scoreboard late in the 24-minute first set and managed to break Sabalenka during the second, though she still trailed 3-1 at that stage. Sabalenka’s return remained decisive throughout: she won 16 of 24 points played behind Iatcenko’s first serve and 14 of 21 behind the qualifier’s second serve.

The match was Iatcenko’s second appearance in a Grand Slam main draw and only her second tour-level main-draw event, according to the WTA. The 22-year-old, ranked No. 160, had reached round two by defeating Renata Zarazua 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 [10-7] in three hours and 27 minutes.

Sabalenka will play Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday for a place in the fourth round. The pair have met three times previously, with Sabalenka winning all three matches. The WTA also reported that Sabalenka has now won 15 consecutive US Open matches dating to the 2024 tournament and 23 consecutive second-round matches at Grand Slam events.