Sabalenka Crushes Iatcenko 6-1 6-1 in 53 Minutes as No. 1 Race Tightens

Q: Will Kamilla Rakhimova's recent momentum be enough to disrupt the dominant World No. 1's quest for another Grand Slam title?

Probably not, though Rakhimova has enough form to make Sabalenka work harder than her first two opponents did. The evidence still points strongly toward Sabalenka. She has opened this US Open with back-to-back straight-set wins, including a 54-minute 6-1, 6-1 rout of Iatcenko, and looks far more settled in New York than she did during her uneven European Slam run. She is also a two-time defending champion at Flushing Meadows, has an outstanding recent record at the tournament, and remains one of the clear title favorites. Rakhimova does arrive with some credible momentum. She came through her section in straight sets, has shown she can trouble established names, and recently beat Venus Williams in Toronto. Other recent form indicators suggest she has been competitive on hard courts and can pressure second serves, which could help her create openings if Sabalenka’s level dips. But the gap in pedigree, power and big-match experience is substantial. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 3-0, according to available match data, and her current level on serve and from the baseline has been overwhelming. When Sabalenka is striking this cleanly, lower-ranked opponents often struggle just to hold ground in rallies. Rakhimova’s best chance is to extend points, attack Sabalenka’s second serve and hope to expose the lapses that hurt the world No. 1 earlier this season. Even so, based on current form and history in New York, Sabalenka should remain a clear favorite to advance.

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Sep 3

53 minutes was all Aryna Sabalenka needed to rout US Open debutant Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1 and move into the third round in one of the quickest Grand Slam wins of her career.
24 winners to three underlined the mismatch, with the two-time defending champion overpowering the world No. 160 and restoring momentum after a five-month dip in form.
Kamilla Rakhimova awaits next as Sabalenka chases a rare third straight US Open title, a feat achieved in the Open era only by Chris Evert and Serena Williams.
The stakes extend beyond New York: Elena Rybakina can still take the No. 1 ranking by reaching the semi-finals, while Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff remain in contention.