Aryna Sabalenka began her US Open campaign with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory over qualifier Priscilla Hon, capping off the opening night at Louis Armstrong Stadium with a dominant performance. Sabalenka, who finished as a runner-up last year and reached the semifinals in 2021 and 2022, hit 27 winners in the match. She will now face Italian Lucia Bronzetti in the second round.
Despite not feeling she played her best tennis, Sabalenka was determined, noting her strong fight for every point. She arrived in New York in excellent form after a recent win in Cincinnati and acknowledged the challenge posed by Hon, who played aggressively and well in the first round.
Sabalenka utilized her powerful forehand effectively, breaking Hon early in the first set and converting another break chance to secure the set. In the second set, despite Hon's improved performance and a lower number of unforced errors, she was unable to capitalize on any of her five break point opportunities. Sabalenka concluded the match with a series of forehand winners, reflecting on the benefits of her recent time off to address injury concerns.
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