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Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka stormed into the US Open round of 16 on Friday with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-4 victory over Kamilla Rakhimova.
The top-ranked Belarusian delivered a dominant performance, blasting 29 winners and 10 aces without facing a single break point.
Rakhimova mounted a fierce challenge in a second-set slugfest, but Sabalenka held off the world number 92 to secure the straight-sets win.
Sabalenka seized control early by breaking Rakhimova’s initial service game and maintaining flawless serving to claim the opening set in 35 minutes.
Rakhimova elevated her power in the second set, forcing gruelling service holds until Sabalenka clinched the decisive break at 5-4. Following the match, Sabalenka praised her opponent’s fighting spirit and expressed relief at wrapping up the contest in two sets.
The two-time defending champion must defend her title in New York to preserve her world number one ranking, which remains under serious threat.
Seeking to join legends Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova as the only women to capture three consecutive US Open titles, she next faces either 15th seed Diana Shnaider or American Taylor Townsend.
Sabalenka emphasised that she actively tunes out external pressure and expectations to stay focused on her performance.
