Sun. Sep 29th, 2024
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Aryna Sabalenka, US Open 2023
Aryna Sabalenka is chasing her second Grand Slam title after winning this year’s Australian Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 August-10 September
Coverage: Daily live text and radio commentaries across the BBC Sport website, app, BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra

Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula – ranked second and third in the world – both won to progress to the fourth round of the US Open.

Belarusian second seed Sabalenka needed just 60 minutes to cruise to a 6-1 6-1 victory over France’s Clara Burel on Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Later on Arthur Ashe, American Pegula fought off a comeback from Ukrainian Elina Svitolina to win 6-4 4-6 6-2.

The third seed will face compatriot Madison Keys in the fourth round.

Tunisian fifth seed Ons Jabeur faces Czech player Marie Bouzkova on Arthur Ashe Stadium later on Saturday, while Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova plays Ekaterina Alexandrova on Louis Armstrong.

Having reached the quarter-finals of the French Open on her return to Grand Slam tennis after having a baby, Svitolina went one better at Wimbledon by reaching the last four but was unable to replicate that success on the hard courts in New York.

The Ukrainian struggled to combat Pegula’s composure in the opening set and looked uncomfortable at times, shaking her head, waving her racquet around and crying out in frustration.

Pegula entertained her home crowd by hitting three aces in one game and needed just one break of serve to calmly take the opener.

Very little separated the two once again in the second set until Svitolina sprang to life in the 10th game, breaking the American with her third set point when Pegula’s shot sailed out of court to force a decider.

Svitolina looked more confident in the final set but it was Pegula who won six straight points to hold her serve before nailing a cross-court forehand winner to break Svitolina in the fifth game.

The 26th seed saved break point two games later but could not keep Pegula at bay as the American broke again before serving out the match.

Pegula has reached the quarter-finals of six Grand Slam tournaments without going beyond the last eight but will look to break that run should she overcome countrywoman Keys in round four.

Earlier on Saturday, 17th seed Keys came from behind to become the second American woman to progress to the fourth round after Coco Gauff with a 5-7 6-2 6-2 victory over Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova.

Sabalenka cruises past Burel

Since winning the Australian Open earlier this year, Sabalenka has enjoyed runs to the semi-finals of the French Open and Wimbledon but will look to topple world number one Iga Swiatek with success in New York.

Sabalenka has maintained her position at world number two since her triumph in Melbourne but should she progress further than defending US Open champion Swiatek at Flushing Meadows she would replace the Pole at the top of the rankings.

The Wimbledon semi-finalist has cruised through her opening round matches without dropping a set and it was a familiar story against 62-ranked Burel.

Sabalenka broke at the first time of asking and never looked back, hitting 22 winners in an impressive outing and breaking to love to seal the win.

She will face 13th seed Daria Kasatkina in the next round after the Russian beat Belgium’s Greet Minnen 6-3 6-4.

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