Aryna Sabalenka Advances to Fourth Round at US Open After Hard-Fought Victory Aryna Sabalenka overcame a challenging second set against Kamilla Rakhimova to secure her place in the fourth round of the US Open, demonstrating resilience and tactical adjustments during the match. The two-time defending champion in New York started strongly, dominating the first set with precision and composure. Sabalenka built an early 3-0 lead, maintaining a flawless first-serve percentage until the seventh game of the set. Rakhimova managed to break her serve once, forcing deuce three times, but Sabalenka held firm, eventually sealing the first set 6-3. The second set proved to be a more intense battle, with Rakhimova showing significant determination to extend the match. The world No. 1 faced repeated challenges as Rakhimova clawed back from behind four consecutive times to hold serve, saving four break points along the way. Sabalenka’s composure under pressure was tested, but she ultimately broke Rakhimova’s resolve in the ninth game of the set. A critical moment came when Rakhimova squandered a 40-0 lead, allowing Sabalenka to capitalize on the error and secure the crucial break. Sabalenka then closed out the match with a strong serve, advancing to the last 16. In her on-court interview, Sabalenka acknowledged Rakhimova’s strong performance, stating, “First of all, it’s annoying she played so well. She played incredible and pushed me so hard in the second set. It really pushed me to improve and motivated me to work hard.” She expressed satisfaction with her ability to close the match in two sets, emphasizing her focus and preparation. “I’m super happy I was able to close this match out in two sets,” she added. Sabalenka’s victory came after a tense exchange with a reporter regarding her pre-tournament activities.#aryna_sabalenka #sky_sports #us_open #kamilla_rakhimova #laver_cup
