Aryna Sabalenka races into US Open third round

Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, returns the ball to Polina Iatcenko, of Russia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

NEW YORK–Top seeded Aryna Sabalenka cruised into the third round of the US Open Wednesday, crushing Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko 6-1, 6-1.

Sabalenka slapped winners practically at will past Iatcenko, a 22-year-old qualifier in her first Grand Slam singles main draw.

READ: Aryna Sabalenka shrugs off struggles, seeks 3rd straight US Open title

“Night atmosphere is always the best atmosphere,” Sabalenka said.

A four-time Grand Slam champion who has triumphed in New York the last two years, Sabalenka relishes the hard courts of Flushing Meadow.

But she has struggled in recent months, suffering disappointing losses at both the French Open and Wimbledon and turning in middling performances at hard court warmup tournaments ahead of the US Open.

READ: Aryna Sabalenka won’t fret over lackluster 2026 results

But against 160th-ranked Iatcenko she raced to a 5-0 lead before Iatcenko managed to get on the board.

Sabalenka dropped just four points on serve in the opening set and was broken just once to give Iatcenko her only game of the second set. Sabalenka responded by winning the next three to secure the win.

She will play Kamilla Rahhimova of Uzbekistan in the third round.