Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant run at the US Open with a confident second-round victory over Russia’s Polina Kudermetova on Wednesday night.
The world number one and defending champion secured a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 victory in the encounter.
The Belarusian has now won 17 consecutive tie-breaks, a run that has become a key weapon in her arsenal this season. In fact, she has triumphed in 10 of her past 11 matches after winning the first set via a tie-break.
Tie-break dominance defines Sabalenka’s edge
The first set saw Kudermetova fight valiantly, but Sabalenka’s sharp focus during the tie-break shifted the momentum firmly in her favour. Once she edged through the opener, the Russian’s resolve appeared to fade, allowing Sabalenka to break early in the second set.
Although her service game showed signs of vulnerability, with two break points faced at 2-1, Sabalenka dug deep to hold and then shifted gears. From that moment, she accelerated towards victory where she showed the same resilience that helped her capture last year’s title.
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Speaking about her tie-break mastery, the three-time Grand Slam champion revealed that her approach is simple yet effective.
“I’m just trying to stay aggressive and fight for every point,” she explained.
“I know every point can be a key moment of the set, so I just stay strong and play aggressive.”
Chasing history at Flushing Meadows
This victory not only kept Sabalenka’s title defense alive but also placed her on the verge of history. She is aiming to become the first player to retain the women’s singles crown at the US Open since Serena Williams achieved the feat in 2014.
Next up for the 27-year-old is a highly anticipated clash with Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.
The 2021 runner-up, who fell to Emma Raducanu in that year’s final, is known for her fearless shot-making and fighting spirit. Therefore, the upcoming encounter promises to test Sabalenka’s consistency and nerve under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
With her confidence high and her tie-break record intact, Sabalenka remains the player to beat in New York.
Tags: Aryna Sabalenka, #USOpen, US Open, Flushing Meadows, Polina Kudermetova, 17 consecutive tie-breaks.
