Aryna Sabalenka overwhelms Polina Iatcenko to reach US Open third round

Aryna Sabalenka needed only 53 minutes to sweep Russia’s Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 and move into the third round of the US Open.

The Belarusian world No. 1, who won the New York major in 2024 and 2025, is seeking a third straight title. She also wants to protect the ranking she has held for 98 consecutive weeks, with Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina posing a threat to her position.

Sabalenka won the match on return, securing the victory with her sixth break on her second match point. Her next opponent will be Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova, ranked 92nd in the world.

Iatcenko, ranked 160th, was making her Grand Slam debut after coming through qualifying. She reached the second round by beating Mexico’s Renata Zarazúa in her opening match. Sabalenka has not lost in the second round of a major since 2020, also in New York, and now has 23 straight wins at that stage.

The result offered a sharp contrast with a difficult season. Sabalenka lost the Australian Open final, exited Roland Garros in the quarterfinals and Wimbledon in the fourth round, then made early exits in Toronto and Cincinnati during the hard-court swing.