World number one Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the fourth round of the US Open on Friday, extending her impressive streak of tie-break victories as she defeated Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.
Sabalenka, the reigning champion, reached the last 16 after a 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) win in one hour and 39 minutes on the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The match’s turning point came in the second set, where Sabalenka sealed the win with her 18th consecutive tie-break victory.
This victory was also sweet revenge for Sabalenka, who was knocked out by then-teenager Fernandez in the semi-finals of the 2021 US Open.
“I really wanted this revenge,” Sabalenka said. “It was a tough lesson for me back then. Since then, we’ve never played again.”
“I just wanted to prove to myself that I’ve learned from that experience and that I’ve grown as a player,” she added.
Sabalenka attributes her tie-break success to her strong mental game. “Mentally, I’m pretty strong, and I’m still growing. All the lessons I’ve learned are making me tougher,” she said.
When asked if her opponents are aware of her tie-break record, Sabalenka replied, “I hope so. I’m not focused on that during the match, but if it adds pressure on my opponents, I love it.”
The talented Fernandez, the 31st seed, started well, earning four break points in Sabalenka’s opening service game of the first set. But Sabalenka saved them all before breaking Fernandez in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead.
That break proved enough to close out the set.
In the second set, Fernandez kept putting pressure on Sabalenka, forcing her to fight off a break point in the sixth game. However, when the set reached the tie-break, Sabalenka quickly gained control, earning three mini-breaks in a row to lead 4-1.
She finished the tie-break 7-2 and secured her spot in the fourth round against unseeded Spaniard Cristina Bucsa.
