Sabalenka ease into third round while Guaff set Svitolina meeting

Aryna Sabalenka followed her opening round wim with another superb performance in the second round as she rolled into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Belarusian and World No.2 who was a champion at the Cincinnati Open last week, extended her current win streak to seven matches after easing past Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 6-1.

“It was a really adorable moment,” Sabalenka said after the match. “I just looked up, and I saw on the big screen, like, a mini me. It was so cute.

“It’s such a motivation to keep going to inspire the young generation. That’s the main goal.”

Sabalenka who was a finalist last year, will face No.29 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round. Alexandrova held off a stern challenge from 16-year-old American wild card Iva Jovic to win 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Also, Defending champion Coco Gauff clinched a spot in the third round of the US Open with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Tatjana Maria on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night.

Gauff will now take on No.27 seed Elina Svitolina in a marquee third-round showdown. Svitolina also had a swift second-round win, easing past her fellow Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina 6-1, 6-2 in 77 minutes on Stadium Court 17.

Elsewhere, No.26 seed and Washington D.C. champion Paula Badosa advanced to her first US Open third round after easing pats Taylor Townsend 6-3, 7-5.

The Spaniard has not lost a set through her two matches. She will face Elena-Gabrela Ruse, who stunned No.8 seed and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-4, 7-5. The Romanian qualifier is into her first third round of a major.

No.14 Madison Keys has lost just nine games across her two matches to return to the third round. Keys defeated Australia’s Maya Joint 6-4, 6-0 and will face No.33 seed Elise Mertens. The Belgian defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 6-2.