MATCH REPORT | 2024 US Open: Aryna Sabalenka advances comfortably as Harriet Dart collapses against Marta Kostyuk.
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the third round of the 2024 US Open with ease, defeating Lucia Bronzetti 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday night at Flushing Meadows. Sabalenka, who has been a strong contender for the title this year, demonstrated her dominant form by wrapping up the match in just over an hour.
Initially, the match was competitive, but Sabalenka seized control by breaking Bronzetti’s serve after trailing 40-15, taking the first set 6-3. The second set saw Sabalenka intensify her play, breaking serve multiple times to win 6-1. Her next opponent is likely to be Ekaterina Alexandrova, with Madison Keys, who defeated Maya Joint in straight sets (6-4, 6-0), expected to face off against her in the fourth round.
In contrast, Harriet Dart struggled against Marta Kostyuk, losing 7-6, 6-1. Dart had opportunities to win the first set, serving at 5-4 and 6-5, and even leading 6-3 in the tiebreaker, but ultimately lost the set and faltered in the second. Kostyuk capitalized on Dart’s mental lapse to win comfortably. Boulter remains the only British player in the draw following Emma Raducanu’s defeat last night.
Qinwen Zheng, meanwhile, had a challenging match against Erika Andreeva, dropping the first set in a tiebreak but recovering to win the next two sets with only two games lost. Additionally, Paula Badosa and Gabriela Ruse both secured victories, with Ruse eliminating Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.
