Dominant but Displeased on Arthur Ashe Stadium
Aryna Sabalenka made short work of Russian qualifier Polina Iatcenko in the second round of the 2026 US Open, posting a 6-1, 6-1 victory in just 53 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was one of the fastest Grand Slam wins of her career, and it kept her bid for a historic third consecutive US Open title firmly on track. Only Chris Evert, who won four in a row from 1975 to 1978, and Serena Williams, who claimed three straight from 2012 to 2014, have ever accomplished that feat in the women's draw. Sabalenka's pace and power were simply too much for Iatcenko, ranked 160th in the world and making her US Open debut. The Belarusian will next face Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round.
A Tense Moment in the Post-Match Press Room
The real drama unfolded after the match, when a journalist opened his question by referencing "lots of parties and fun" in the week before the tournament began, seemingly alluding to Sabalenka's active social media presence and brand appearances. Sabalenka was visibly irritated, telling the reporter he was drawing wrong conclusions from her promotional posts. When the journalist tried to clarify he meant public appearances rather than actual parties, Sabalenka cut him off, saying he had literally used that word, then shut the line of questioning down entirely. When asked if the tournament's arrival meant she was "getting serious," she replied with biting sarcasm before moving on. The exchange highlighted the scrutiny Sabalenka faces as her form has dipped since a blazing start to 2026, which included titles at Indian Wells and Miami. With Elena Rybakina capable of overtaking her at the top of the rankings by reaching the semifinals here, the stakes could not be higher. TennisDraw users have been closely watching Sabalenka's draw as one of the most debated bracket picks of the tournament.
