Sabalenka hammers Bronzetti to reach US Open third round

Aryna Sabalenka faced little resistance from Lucia Bronzetti as the hard-hitting Belarusian eased past the Italian 6-3 6-1 on Wednesday to claim her spot in the US Open third round.

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Sabalenka, who is one of the favourites to win the tournament, put her punishing serve to good use, pounding five aces to just one double fault while never facing a break point.

The second-seeded Sabalenka needed a few games to settle in against the world number 76 but took control of the match when she outlasted Bronzetti in a rally to break for a 4-2 lead in the first set.

Aryna Sabalenka

Just over an hour is all it takes for Aryna Sabalenka to move into Round 3! pic.twitter.com/Z8VejSuFdM

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 28, 2024

Sabalenka broke again to open the one-sided second set and cruised to the finish on a hot day at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Sabalenka, who reached the final of the tournament last year, rolled to the Cincinnati Open title earlier this month without losing a set and has yet to drop one in her two matches at Flushing Meadows so far this year.

Stop what you're doing, we have the moment of the tournament from @SabalenkaA 😍🤗 pic.twitter.com/kH16B0EZyc

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 28, 2024