Sabalenka Drops Two Games to Reach US Open Third Round

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka reached the US Open third round with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over qualifier Polina Iatcenko in New York on Wednesday. The WTA reported that the two-time defending champion completed the second-round match in 53 minutes, dropping only two games in a dominant performance at Flushing Meadows.

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Sabalenka established control almost immediately, building a double-break advantage in the opening set. According to the WTA's match report, she attacked Iatcenko's second serve on both of those early break points, producing one winner from the backhand side and another from the forehand side.

The top seed finished with 24 winners, compared with three for Iatcenko. Official match statistics show Sabalenka converted five of her six break opportunities and won 48 of the 69 points played. She also landed 26 of 34 first serves and won 19 of those first-serve points. Sabalenka collected 24 points on serve and another 24 on return, while Iatcenko won 21 points in total.

Iatcenko converted the only break point she created, but she could not make sustained progress against Sabalenka's pace. The 22-year-old qualifier, ranked No. 160 in the WTA report, was playing only the second Grand Slam main-draw match of her career after earning her first major main-draw victory in the opening round.

That first-round win had required Iatcenko to recover from 5-3 down in the deciding set against Renata Zarazua, eventually prevailing 4-6, 6-4, 7-6[7] after three hours and 27 minutes. Sabalenka's route had been more direct: she began her title defense by beating Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 27 minutes.

Sabalenka will next face Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova on Friday for a place in the fourth round. The WTA said it will be their fourth meeting, with Sabalenka leading the head-to-head series 3-0. The Belarusian is attempting to win a third consecutive US Open women's singles title, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams from 2014 through 2016.