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Top seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her pursuit of a third consecutive US Open title with a commanding victory over Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko, securing a place in the third round with a 6-1, 6-1 win on Wednesday.
The Belarusian produced a dominant display on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, hitting winners with power and precision against the 22-year-old Iatcenko, who was making her first appearance in a Grand Slam singles main draw.
Sabalenka quickly took control of the match, racing into a 5-0 lead before Iatcenko managed to get on the scoreboard. The world number one dropped just four points on serve in the opening set and faced little resistance as she wrapped up the first set in convincing fashion.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Sabalenka allowing Iatcenko only one game before closing out the match in straight sets. The victory extended Sabalenka’s winning streak at Flushing Meadows to 15 matches.
Reflecting on her performance, Sabalenka said the New York night sessions bring out her best.
“Night atmosphere is always the best atmosphere,” she said.
The four-time Grand Slam champion has enjoyed remarkable success at the US Open, winning the tournament in the past two years. However, her form was questioned after disappointing results at the French Open and Wimbledon, along with inconsistent performances in the hard-court tournaments leading into New York.
Despite those challenges, Sabalenka said she feels stronger mentally and physically compared with earlier in the season.
“I’m happy with my level. I’ve been working really hard, but I feel like I’m moving away from trying to be perfect on court,” she said.
“I know that you cannot be perfect, and I’m just trying to work with what I have right now,” she added.
Sabalenka will face Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova, ranked 92nd in the world, in the third round as she continues her bid for another US Open crown.
