US Open: Aryna Sabalenka kicks off era as #1; bests Daria Kasatkina to enter QF!

Aryna Sabalenka routed yet another opponent at the US Open. This time, it was the turn of 13th seed Daria Kasatkina in their fourth-round match on Monday. The second seed completed a 6-1, 6-3 after 75 minutes of play.

Kasatkina who’d shown remarkable consistency in getting through her initial rounds at Flushing Meadows wasn’t able to demonstrate her usual game-play against Sabalenka. The latter picked apart the Russian’s tactics all throughout the match. In fact, Kasatkina didn’t even win a service game across the first set. The lone game she had in that set, came off a break on Sabalenka’s serve, in the third game.

The second set was only marginally better for the 26-year-old in that she held her serve for the first time in the match. In the fifth game of the set, Kasatkina saved a break point en route to clinching a game, with Sabalenka still leading 3-2 with a break. As it turned out, it was the only time she got to retain her serve. The other two games she won in that set came courtesy of service breaks.

Kasatkina’s misery came to an end in the ninth game with her being unable to do much on her serve for the final time in the match, and in the Major. Sabalenka had nearly five times as many winners as Kasatkina. The latter had seven winners and Sabalenka had 31. The highest-seeded player left in the draw, finished with 23 unforced errors to her opponent’s 11.

This was Sabalenka’s first win as the world no. 1 although the rankings won’t change until the Monday, after the US Open ends, on 11th September.

US Open: Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur exit stage left

Meanwhile, in the quarter-finals, Sabalenka will encounter Qinwen Zheng. The 23rd seed upset Ons Jabeur, 6-2, 6-4 in their round-of-16 match-up. Following the fifth-seeded Jabeur’s loss, the 2023 edition of the Major’s now lost both its returning champion and finalist in the span of two days.

Another upset that occurred was that of third seed Jessica Pegula. Madison Keys, the 17th seed here, pipped her higher-ranked rival in an American face-off, 6-1, 6-3 in merely a minute past the hour. Keys’ game was so impenetrable that Pegula came out of the contest looking like a novice than like a seasoned pro.

Keys will now play Marketa Vondrousova for an opportunity to reach the semis at the US Open. The ninth seed fended off a threat from Keys and Pegula’s younger compatriot, Peyton Stearns. The Czech came from a set down to best the 22-year-old, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-2 after more than two hours.