US Open: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka Makes Quick Work of Iatcenko, Sets Up Rakhimova Clash

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka made quick work of qualifier Polina Iatcenko
on Wednesday, winning 6-1, 6-1 to reach the US Open third round and extend her winning streak in New York to 15 matches. The two-time defending champion needed just 54 minutes to move through a match in which her pace and power proved too much for Iatcenko to handle. Sabalenka will play Kamilla Rakhimova
on Friday in their fourth meeting; she leads the head-to-head 3-0. Rakhimova defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva
6-3, 6-0 to become the first player representing Uzbekistan to reach the third round of a major since Akgul Amanmuradova at the 2011 US Open.

From the outset, Sabalenka’s pace gave Iatcenko little room to settle into only her second Grand Slam main-draw match — and second tour-level main draw overall. Sabalenka quickly built a double-break lead, attacking Iatcenko’s second serve for winners on both break points, first with her backhand and then her forehand. She finished with six breaks of serve, three in each set.