Aryna Sabalenka just absolutely dominated Polina Iatcenko in a brutal 6-1, 6-1 stomp at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night, needing only 54 minutes to roll into the US Open third round. Seriously, 54 minutes! That’s not even enough time to grab a decent coffee and get back to your seat. Sabalenka is not messing around in New York, and it’s making everyone take notice.
Unstoppable Force in Full Effect
This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement. Sabalenka’s second straight sets victory here at the US Open was a masterclass in controlled aggression. She came out firing in the first set, taking a commanding 5-0 lead, and dropped only seven total points before Iatcenko could even get on the board. Iatcenko snagged one game, but Sabalenka shut it down immediately, winning the next four points to close out the set in under 25 minutes. Imagine hitting the court, feeling good, and then someone just blasts past you like that. The second set? No better for Iatcenko. Sabalenka broke her serve right away, then rolled through the second game without giving up a single point to make it 2-0. She gave up another game later on, sure, but then she responded by winning seven straight points to reclaim control. It was clinical, it was relentless, and it’s clear this No. 1 WTA ranked player is the favorite for a reason.
From “Quit Tennis” to Crushing It
Remember those struggles earlier in the year? Man, it feels like a lifetime ago. Sabalenka won three singles titles in 2026 and even made it to the Australian Open final back in January. But then came the Grand Slams in Europe. She got knocked out in the quarterfinals at the French Open, and Naomi Osaka got her in straight sets at Wimbledon. The frustration after that French Open loss was so real, she actually said she “just wanted to quit tennis right now.” Can you believe that? That’s the kind of raw emotion you hear from a player who lives and breathes the game. But clearly, whatever issues she had over in Europe didn’t follow her across the Atlantic. This perfect start in New York is proof.
Sabalenka now faces Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round, who herself beat Oksana Selekhmeteva in straight sets. If Sabalenka keeps this up, playing with this kind of dominant force, it’s going to be incredibly hard to slow her down. She looks absolutely dialled in, and the rest of the field should be very, very worried.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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