WHAT HAPPENED: Aryna Sabalenka ended the retirement party of Maryna Zanevska on Tuesday night inside Louis Armstrong Stadium. The world No. 2 prevailed 6-3, 6-2 in their first-round US Open match to conclude the Belgian’s career.
"I think she played an unbelievable match and fought until the end. I'm just really happy with the win," said Sabalenka in her on-court interview. "No matter what, I was able to focus on myself and not the score. Hopefully I'll be able to do better with every match."
The match opened with four consecutive breaks of serve as Sabalenka coughed up numerous double faults. But once she got her service toss under control, the world No. 2 also took control of the baseline rallies. Sabalenka moved her opponent around the court with ease, securing a third consecutive break at 3-2 before crushing a forehand winner three games later to wrap up the opening set.
Zanevska refused to bow out quietly, though. Charming the crowd with her positive attitude and frequent smiles after winning shots, Zanevska secured an early break to lead in the second set after Sabalenka missed an overhead smash. The No. 2 seed regrouped by immediately breaking her opponent in the next game and quickly regained control.
Sabalenka swept the last six games of the match, finishing with a big first serve to close out the contest after one hour and 17 minutes. She finished the night with 27 winners to 23 errors.
WHAT IT MEANS: Zanevska’s 14-year career came to a close in New York. The 30-year-old reached a career-high WTA ranking last year of No. 62 and won her lone WTA title on the clay courts of Gdynia, Poland, in 2021.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka still has her sights firmly set on a US Open title and the No. 1 ranking. She will take over the top spot from top seed and defending champion Iga Swiatek if she matches or betters the Pole's result this fortnight. This potentially sets the stage for a championship match between the pair in which a Grand Slam crown and the No. 1 ranking would be on the line.
The 25-year-old captured her maiden Grand Slam crown this year at the Australian Open (def. Elena Rybakina). However, her five defeats in Grand Slam semifinals, two of which occurred this year and all of which came in three sets, have also raised eyebrows. Sabalenka fell in the semifinal stage of her past two US Open appearances to Swiatek and Leylah Fernandez, respectively.
Next up for Sabalenka is Jodie Burrage of Great Britain, a 6-3, 6-4 winner earlier in the day over Anna Blinkova. This will be the first meeting between the pair.
MATCH POINT: True to her on-court personality, Sabalenka has large tattoos of tigers on her left arm and upper left thigh.
