The first serve did the work
Aryna Sabalenka won the first 16 points she played behind her first delivery this afternoon in New York. Kamilla Rakhimova had no way into the match while that lasted, and by the time she found one the set was gone.
The world number one came through 6-3, 6-4 in the third round to reach the fourth. She hit 29 winners and 10 aces, numbers that describe the match better than the scoreline does. Rakhimova did settle in the second set and pushed things to 4-4, at which point Sabalenka broke and served it out without fuss.
Two rounds earlier she had needed only 6-1, 6-1 against qualifier Polina Iatcenko. The title defence has been an exercise in efficiency so far.
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Three in a row would put her in rare company
Sabalenka is chasing a third consecutive US Open singles title. The last woman to win three in New York back to back was Serena Williams, who took the 2012, 2013 and 2014 editions. Nobody has managed it since.
That context explains why every round she plays this fortnight carries a slightly different weight. The Belarusian has been the most consistent hard-court player in the women’s game for three seasons, and the tournament that suits her best is the one where the streak is live.
The bracket is losing its seeds
Friday reshaped a chunk of the women’s draw. Emma Navarro removed the seventh seed Karolina Muchova 6-3, 7-5, and Sorana Cirstea beat Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-3 without much argument. Taylor Townsend needed three sets to see off Diana Shnaider.
Jessica Pegula had the hardest afternoon of the top seeds. She lost the opening set 6-1 to Leylah Fernandez, landed 41 percent of her first serves in it, then turned the match around to win 6-4, 6-3 and reach the fourth round for a fifth year running.
Saturday brings the rest of the third round, with Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Naomi Osaka all in action.
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