Aryna Sabalenka defeated Maryna Zanevska 6-3, 6-2 in their first-round encounter at the US Open in Tuesday’s evening session. The world no. 2 had a bit of a stumble in the first set but promptly set herself back on course to finish the match after 78 minutes of play.
Sabalenka didn’t miss much to start the match and was quickly able to get a double-break lead in the first set. However, a slight lapse in concentration on Sabalenka’s part coupled with Zanevska finding her momentum led to the second seed handing over one of the two breaks back to her opponent. However, Sabalenka broke back right away, in the eighth game, and went on to consolidate the break by serving the set out in the following game.
Zanevska retaliated by securing a break on Sabalenka’s opening service game of the second set to open up a 2-0 lead for herself. As it turned out, the Belgian wasn’t able to win any more games in the set as Sabalenka ran away with it with her consistent and powerful groundstrokes. This despite that Sabalenka went 0 for three on second-serve points won.
For the match, Sabalenka finished with three times as many winners as her opponent’s nine and had 10 more unforced errors than Zanevska’s 13. Following this result, Zanevska will also close her career as she’d previously mentioned. Her retirement was brought about by back problems.
In the second round, the 25-year-old will play Briton Jodie Burrage. Burrage beat Anna Blinkova 6-3, 6-4 in their first-round match.
US Open: Composed Jessica Pegula enters R64
Jessica Pegula© Simon Bruty/USTA
The highest-ranked American woman, Jessica Pegula also made her way into the second round. The world no. 3 made it look easy against tricky contestant, Camila Giorgi. Pegula needed around 82 minutes to come up with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
The 29-year-old’s first serve clicked all throughout the match and she won 89% of her first-serve points. In comparison, Giorgi won 63% of her first-serve points. The home player finished the match with 28 winners to the Italian’s 16 and had 13 unforced errors to the latter’s 31.
Patricia Maria Tig will be Jessica Pegula’s next opponent at the US Open. The Romanian won against Rebecca Marino 7-6(6), 7-6(1).
